World Number One Djokovic Fighting Deportation After Australia Visa Revoked
6th January 2022
Djokovic fought against deportation from Australia for failing to meet Covid vaccine-entry requirements.
- Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic's bid to defend his Australian Open title is on the rocks after his visa was revoked by the government on Thursday
- The vaccine-sceptic Serb was stopped by border officials on arrival to Australia late on Wednesday and denied entry into the country
- The 34-year-old has refused to reveal his vaccine status publicly, but has previously voiced opposition to being jabbed. He contracted Covid at least once
Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic's bid to defend his Australian Open title is on the rocks after his visa was revoked by the government on Thursday.
Djokovic fought against deportation from Australia for failing to meet Covid vaccine-entry requirements.
The vaccine-sceptic Serb was stopped by border officials on arrival to Australia late on Wednesday and denied entry into the country.
He is currently being held at an immigration detention facility in Melbourne and faces deportation.
Djokovic had flown into the city’s Tullamarine Airport expecting to defend his Australian Open crown, and to bid for an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam title.
He had claimed on Instagram that he had obtained an exemption to play in the tournament, which begins on January 17, without being vaccinated.
The 34-year-old has refused to reveal his vaccine status publicly, but has previously voiced opposition to being jabbed. He contracted Covid at least once.
But instead of a conquering champion’s return, Djokovic never made it past border control.
"Rules are rules and there are no special cases," Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Australian border officials questioned the sports star overnight and revoked his visa citing a failure to “provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements”.
Djokovic’s lawyers are now arguing against that decision in court, hoping to prevent the star’s deportation.
Australia’s leaders — wary of public sentiment and mounting Covid problems ahead of an upcoming election — pointed fingers over who was responsible for the saga.
Tournament organisers were also criticised, with Australian Open chief Craig Tiley insisting the defending champion had been given “no special favour” and urging him to reveal why he got the exemption to soothe public anger.
All participants at the first Grand Slam of 2022 must be vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a medical exemption, which is granted only after assessment by two panels of independent experts.
Among the conditions allowing entry without a vaccine is if a person has had Covid-19 in the past six months. It has not been revealed if that was the case with Djokovic.
Djokovic voiced his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine in April 2020 when it was suggested they might be obligatory so tournament play could resume.
"Personally I am not pro-vaccines," said Djokovic at the time.
"I would not like it for someone to compel me to be vaccinated so I can travel."
During Djokovic’s questioning at the airport, his coach Goran Ivanisevic posted a photograph on Instagram of himself and the Serb’s other backroom staff, patiently waiting at the airport for a resolution.
"Not the most usual trip Down Under," wrote the former Wimbledon champion.