Post Visa Issue, Will Novak Djokovic Play Aus Open 2022?

UPDATE: Djokovic has been taken to government detention hotel in Melbourne.

First, there was an issue over his vaccination. However, he managed to get a medical exemption to play at the 2022 Australian Open and then what happens?! His team messes up the Visa application and he’s not allowed to enter Melbourne anyway! So much has happened in the last few days and weeks for the world number #1 men’s tennis player, Novak Djokovic.

Yes, we know that there’s Covid-19 around and the world is being super careful with respect to their health, but we’re talking about 20-time Grand Slam champion and 9-time Australian Open champion here. And you’re telling me he can’t get entry into a city?! Well, that’s what happened today as he was denied entry when airport authorities noticed that Djokovic’s team made a mistake with his application.

Djokovic denied entry into Australia

Yes, Djokovic received a green signal from the organisers of the tournament to let him play the 2022 Australian Open without a vaccination, but his team hadn’t requested a visa that permits medical exemptions for those who aren’t vaccinated. So while he got permission from the sports tournament, he didn’t abide by the rules of the land.

Every player at the tournament (along with staff) has to be either vaccinated or holding an exemption granted by an expert independent panel. On Wednesday, 5th Jan 2022, Djokovic arrived at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport and was denied entry due to this mistake. Clearly, being the world’s best tennis player doesn’t let you get away with everything!

Djokovic gets no support from Australia authorities

“The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia. We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam,” said part of Pulford’s tweet on the matter.

Update on #AusOpen2022…
The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia.
We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
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— Jaala Pulford MP (@JaalaPulford) January 5, 2022

“Visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors,” she added. Djokovic has been winning at the Australian Open three years in succession and he won’t be happy with what’s going down right now. And if he doesn’t play, it turns the men’s winner betting odds upside down as the young lot like Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, and others will sniff a chance!

Even the Prime Minister Scott Morrison doesn’t want to make any exceptions in the law. “If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever,” he said regarding a genuine proof of medical exemption from receiving the vaccination.