How Djokovic can play in Australia despite entry ban
In fact, Novak Djokovic was banned from the country for three years. But his chances of playing in the Australian Open in January are not that bad.
Novak Djokovic not only has the ball on his mind but also next year’s Australian Open.
Photo: John Walton (Keystone)
There are still three months left until the Australian Open, and these days it is already becoming clear: whether Novak Djokovic will be allowed to enter Melbourne in January to participate in the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2023 season, it The question is gaining momentum. Again.
The Serb was the first to speak, naturally expressing his desire to compete in the event he won nine times and missed last January after he was ultimately denied entry by court order because he needed to be vaccinated against coronavirus. was not imposed. The decision contained the customary ban on entry into the country for three years in such cases. Novak Djokovic’s request was of course forwarded to the tournament director of the Australian Open. But Craig Tilley was wise this time not to outline loopholes for vaccine holdouts, as he did a year ago when trying to push through exemptions. He now referred to politics.
Opposition force Karen Andrews, home secretary at the time of Djokovic’s deportation in January, went further, saying: “It would be a slap in the face to Australians if Novak Djokovic was suddenly allowed back into the country because he was a high-class tennis player.” player.” The situation has been clarified except for the most important one: how does the Australian government think?
New PM has sympathy for tennis
Anthony Albanese of the Australian Labor Party has been prime minister since May. Various reports have indicated that the 59-year-old is sympathetic to tennis and does not want Djokovic’s case to escalate as it did at the beginning of the year, when Scott Morrison, 54, of Australia’s Liberal Party was still prime minister. . Pushed hard course. At that time the election campaign was going on.
Djokovic’s hopes of fighting for his 22nd Grand Slam title, which would see him tied with Spain’s Rafael Nadal, are reasonable. From July, unvaccinated people are again receiving visas to Australia. There is also a way for him to try to get the temporary entry ban lifted, and he has a right to go that route. As an immigration attorney confirmed to The Associated Press, Djokovic only has to explain his circumstances and ask for the ban to be lifted. The Australian Border Protection Agency, which investigates every objection, may not be impressed by Djokovic’s prominence, which recently led a researcher to name a species of beetle discovered in Serbia “Duvelius Djokovic”.
In any case, Djokovic may have given the right signal to respect the laws of each country he entered as a world traveller. He also admitted to being barred from entering New York in September, which caused him to miss the US Open. The court is unlikely to be held for a second time, arguing that Djokovic’s presence would jeopardize Australian security. It was already looking suspicious in January.
Djokovic can still play tennis. She hasn’t played much recently, but has won Wimbledon and Rome, and won her 89th and 90th titles in Tel Aviv and Astana. Of course, it will help everyone involved to never have to make a last minute decision again. Three months pass quickly.
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