• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service
Sunday, May 29, 2022
The Millennial Source
TMS
Home WORLD

Novak Djokovic deported from Australia

byThe Millennial Source
January 16, 2022
in WORLD
Novak Djokovic Australia

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight, after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin
Djokovic has left Australia and a potential payday of US$2.1 million behind.

What happened?

  • Novak Djokovic is the men’s world tennis number one and flew to Melbourne, Australia from Dubai to compete in the Australian Open. But then he was told his visa was rejected after trying to bypass an Australian entry requirement for COVID-19 and that he had to go back home.
  • Initially, he was granted a medical exemption by two health panels to be allowed in the country even though he wasn’t vaxxed (a requirement for people coming into Australia). Then, he was detained at an immigration center and his visa was revoked for not meeting the entry requirements.
  • Afterward, a judge overturned the decision and released him from the center, and then most recently, the government stepped in to revoke his visa saying that they were worried it would fuel anti-vax sentiment.
Novak Djokovic Australia
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight, after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

So, Djokovic won’t play at the Australian Open?

  • Yep. Now, Djokovic has left Australia and a potential payday of US$2.1 million behind.
  • He said he was “extremely disappointed” with the ruling but respected the decision.
  • “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country. I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate,” he wrote in an email statement.
  • Throughout the saga, Djokovic also faced a possible three-year ban from entering Australia, but according to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, the prohibition was waived because of “compelling circumstances.”

What have the country leaders said?

Novak Djokovic Australia
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight, after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
  • It’s caused a fair bit of debate in the country, with an opinion poll of 1,607 people by Melbourne’s Age newspaper showing that almost three-quarters of Australians believe Djokovic should have been sent home.
  • While Djokovic has been here, anti-vaxxers in Australia have been using the hashtag #IStandWithDjokovic on social media.
  • “Rightly or wrongly he is perceived to endorse an anti-vaccination view and his presence here is perceived to contribute to that,” barrister Stephen Lloyd, acting for the government, told the court.
  • Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed “the decision to keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe,” but his government faces criticism at home and abroad for its handling of the affair. But back in Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić wasn’t as happy, saying that it was an attack on both the player and his country.
  • “They mistreated him for 10 days only to hand him a verdict that they had in mind from the very first day,” Vučić told reporters in Belgrade after a phone call with the tennis star, the state news agency Tanjug reported.
  • Djokovic was misled by having been offered an exemption to compete without being vaccinated, “but then the harassment began, a witch hunt against one person and country,” Vučić said. “They wanted to show how the world order works.”

What have people in the industry said?

  • “Australian Open is much more important than any player,” world number six Rafael Nadal told reporters Saturday. “Novak Djokovic is one of the best players of the history, without a doubt, but there is no one player in history that’s more important than an event.”
  • Patrick Mouratolglou, the coach of Serena Williams, tweeted that “The big loser of this mess is the tournament. The only good news is that we will hopefully start talking about tennis.”

The big loser of this mess is the tournament.
The only good news is that we will hopefully start talking about tennis.

— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) January 16, 2022
  • The Association of Tennis Professionals said in a statement that Djokovic was one of the sport’s greatest champions and that his absence from the Australian Open was “a loss for the game”.
  • “We know how turbulent the recent days have been for Novak and how much he wanted to defend his title in Melbourne. We wish him well and look forward to seeing him back on court soon. ATP continues to strongly recommend vaccination to all players,” the association added.

You drive the stories at TMS. DM us which headline you want us to explain, or email us.

Like TMS? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter

. . .

Related

Tags: COVID-19
ShareTweetShare

Latest Posts

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific seeks to rehire ex-staff as part of airline’s “anticipated recovery”

May 27, 2022
Hong Kong COVID

Hong Kong border controls “unlikely” to be relaxed before June 30 amid “significant amount” of imported cases, says Lam

May 25, 2022
North Korea COVID

North Korea faces over 1 million infections and 62 deaths from recent COVID spike

May 19, 2022

The University of Hong Kong’s medical faculty warns people of a potential COVID cluster in Kennedy Town

May 13, 2022

Abandoning zero-COVID regulations could result in approximately 1.55 million deaths in China, says university study

May 12, 2022

Hong Kong will revisit discussions with China about opening borders quarantine-free

May 11, 2022

China tightens COVID rules despite consecutive drops in daily infections

May 11, 2022

China’s lockdowns are ineffective in the long run says White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci

May 6, 2022

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces the second stage of COVID rules relaxation for May

May 4, 2022

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TMS NEWSLETTER

By providing your email, you agree to our Privacy Policy

The Millennial Source Ltd. 2021

No Result
View All Result
  • Your daily briefing
  • About us
  • Explore
    • Startups
    • Climate change
    • Tech giants
    • Crypto
    • The future of work
    • Banking giants
    • Economy
  • Lifestyle
  • TMS archives
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy & Terms

© 2022 The Millennial Source Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

 

Loading Comments...
 

    string(24) "jsonld single post debug"
    The Millennial Source
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.