Australian Open: Novak Djokovic is allowed to play in Melbourne in 2023
A year after Melbourne's public entry drama, Novak Djokovic gets his visa for Australia, according to media reports.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 15, 2022, 02:47 pm
Novak Djokovic was still clueless on Monday evening, a few hours later Australian media reported the redeeming news for the Serbs: One year after the public entry drama in Melbourne, the tennis star got his visa and was allowed to compete at the Australian Open (from January 16). play tenth title. The ban appears to have been lifted.
Djokovic's lawyers had negotiated with the Australian government behind the scenes, but there was "nothing official yet. We're waiting," Djokovic said after his opening win at the ATP Finals in Turin against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6: 4, 7: 6). .
You can enter Australia without a vaccination
An official announcement was initially not forthcoming on Tuesday, but the reports from Guardian Australia or TV broadcaster ABC were clear: Djokovic is allowed to enter the country, the multi-year ban he had gotten at the beginning of the year when he tried without Vaccination entry will be cancelled.
Flashback: In January 2022 there was a scandal before the Australian Open, suddenly Rafael Nadal Djokovic's biggest opponent was no longer, but the Australian Federal Court. The legal dispute lasted ten days, during which Djokovic stayed in forced quarantine in a deportation hotel. His fans gathered in front of his window and demanded his "release".
Djokovic burdened by court battle
However, the Australian government around Immigration Minister Alex Hawke remained firm, fearing unrest in the country if Djokovic, who "was perceived by some as a representative of the anti-vaccination movement" (Hawke), received an exemption. For Djokovic (35) it was one of the most painful defeats of his career, and he was also absent from the US Open in New York because of the refusal to vaccinate.
The court dispute in Melbourne "stressed him more mentally and emotionally than physically," Djokovic later admitted. It took him a while to fully recover and "transform the experiences into positive energy." Only at the clay court Masters in Rome did he win the first title of the season, at Wimbledon in July he was in top form and won his 21st Grand Slam tournament. He is only one title away from record holder Nadal.
Opposition criticizes upcoming decision
Should Djokovic actually get his visa, he can also thank the new Australian government around Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The pursues a different course than the predecessors of the conservative coalition. Entry into Australia is now possible again without proof of vaccination, and the new Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles, is to lift Djokovic's ban.
Criticism has recently come from the opposition. "It would be a slap in the face to all the people in Australia who did the right thing and got vaccinated if Novak Djokovic is suddenly allowed to come back to the country just because he's a multi-million dollar senior tennis player," said Karen Andrews on ABC radio. The 62-year-old was Interior Minister when Djokovic was expelled in January.