Well, the Novak Djokovic saga is done, and it was only completed about 12 hours before play begins at the Australian Open. As we detailed, Novak’s visa was cancelled for a second time late last week (Friday late afternoon in Melbourne). There were emergency hearings, and Novak was taken back into custody overnight Friday and Saturday, and he was once again placed in that quarantine/deportation hotel. Finally, on Sunday, the decision was made after both sides presented their case. The Australian government no longer argued that Novak’s visa should be revoked on technical terms (given the contradictory timeline of when Novak “tested positive” for Covid) and instead argued that Novak’s visa was revoked because he’s an anti-vaxxer, period.
Novak Djokovic has been deported from Australia after losing a last-ditch court bid to stay in the country. Judges rejected a challenge launched by the unvaccinated tennis star after the government cancelled his visa on “health and good order” grounds.
The world number one’s hopes of defending his Australian Open title and winning a record 21st Grand Slam in Melbourne are over. Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” but accepted the ruling. He boarded a flight bound for Dubai from Melbourne airport.
As he prepared to leave, the men’s tennis governing body ATP said the court ruling on Sunday marked an end to a “deeply regrettable series of events”.
Earlier in the day, Djokovic’s supporters fell silent outside the courtroom as the decision was announced on the eve of his opening match in the tournament. One fan told the BBC that her summer would be “empty” without the 34-year-old playing at the Open.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed “the decision to keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe”.
Djokovic launched the case after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his ministerial powers to cancel the Serbian player’s visa, arguing that his presence in the country risked fanning anti-vaccine sentiment.
I said this on Twitter and I’ll repeat it here: I don’t believe Novak came to Australia to be evil, or to spread his particular anti-vaxx gospel. He’s simply an idiot when it comes to science, and he’s too stubborn to admit when he’s wrong. This entire debacle caused him to dig in his heels instead of acknowledge that he needs to rethink his anti-vaccine stance. I still feel that there was probably a deal to be worked out if certain things were different: the mysteries around his December “positive Covid test” and his extreme reticence to simply get vaccinated. I also think Novak blundered his way into a sensitive political sh-tstorm in Australia, with politicians vying to respond to the anger from Australian citizens.
In any case, Novak is going to find this year’s tennis season pretty difficult if he remains unvaccinated. My guess is his next event will be in Dubai next month, but he hasn’t confirmed anything. I doubt his unvaxxed ass would be allowed to play in Indian Wells and Miami in March either. So who are you supporting to win the AO title? I want a Nadal-Medvedev final!
A statement from Novak Djokovic as he prepares to leave Australia. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gjxpnC6ylu
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 16, 2022
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Novak’s social media, Backgrid.
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- (200202) — MELBOURNE, Feb. 2, 2020 () — Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after the men’s singles final against Dominic Thiem of Austria at 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 2, 2020. (/Bai Xuefei),Image: 563234618, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS excluding China – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Bai Xuefei / Avalon
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- (200202) — MELBOURNE, Feb. 2, 2020 () — Novak Djokovic of Serbia delivers a speech during the awarding ceremony after the men’s singles final against Dominic Thiem of Austria at 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 2, 2020. (/Wang Jingqiang),Image: 563238596, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS excluding China – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Wang Jingqiang / Avalon
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- (200202) — MELBOURNE, Feb. 2, 2020 () — Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the men’s singles final against Dominic Thiem of Austria at 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 2, 2020. (/Zhu Wei),Image: 563238629, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS excluding China – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Zhu Wei / Avalon
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- (200203) — MELBOURNE, Feb. 3, 2020 () — Australian Open men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for photographs with the winner’s trophy at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 3, 2020. (Photo by Bai Xue/),Image: 563252628, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS excluding China – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Bai Xue / Avalon
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- (200203) — MELBOURNE, Feb. 3, 2020 () — Australian Open men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for photographs with the winner’s trophy at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 3, 2020. (Photo by Bai Xue/),Image: 563252835, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS excluding China – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Bai Xue / Avalon
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- Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB),Image: 641757958, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Aurelien Morissard / Panoramic / Avalon
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- Novak Djokovic (srb),Image: 641862046, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: JB Autissier / Panoramic / Avalon
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Melbourne, AUSTRALIA – Novak Djokovic wins his match during the Australian Open 2020 in Melbourne, on February 2, 2020.
Pictured: Novak Djokovic
BACKGRID USA 2 FEBRUARY 2020
BYLINE MUST READ: Best Image / BACKGRID
USA: 1 310 798 9111 / [email protected]
UK: 44 208 344 2007 / [email protected]
*UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children
Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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Sydney, AUSTRALIA – The news that Novak Djokovic had received a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open tournament this month in Melbourne spurred a range of reactions in Australia, where some politicians and tennis officials called on him to explain himself.
Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 male tennis player and a prominent vaccination skeptic, announced on social media on Tuesday that he was “heading Down Under with an exemption permission.”
The tournament’s organizers confirmed that he had been granted a medical exemption after a review process by two independent panels, a procedure that suggested he remained unvaccinated.
Reaction among the pro tennis elite was somewhat measured. After Alex de Minaur and James Duckworth, who are both from Australia, absorbed the news, Duckworth said at a news briefing at the ATP Cup in Sydney, “If he’s fit the criteria, then, yeah, he should be able to come.”
“That’s very politically correct of you,” de Minaur replied with a laugh. He added, “I just think it’s just very interesting; that’s all I’m going to say.”
Other Australians used social media to express their anger at the decision. The hashtag #DjokovicOut trended on Twitter on Wednesday. Commentators pointed out that spectators at the Australian Open must be vaccinated.
Stephen Parnis, a former vice president of the Australian Medical Association, tweeted: “I don’t care how good a tennis player he is. If he’s refusing to get vaccinated, he shouldn’t be allowed in. If this exemption is true, it sends an appalling message to millions seeking to reduce #COVID19Aus risk to themselves & others. #Vaccination shows respect, Novak.”
Pictured: Novak Djokovic
BACKGRID USA 5 JANUARY 2022
BYLINE MUST READ: Best Image / BACKGRID
USA: 1 310 798 9111 / [email protected]
UK: 44 208 344 2007 / [email protected]
*UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children
Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
