The in-again out-again saga of Novak Djokovic and the 2022 Australian Open took another severe–but not unexpected turn–on Friday.
After temporarily having his Australian visa reinstated by judge Anthony Kelly earlier this week, it was canceled again on Friday afternoon by immigration minister Alex Hawke.
Per Hawke himself, Djokovic’s visa was cancelled based on “health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.” Hawke’s statement added that Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government “is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian, but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods,” Morris added. “Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected. This is what the minister is doing in taking this action today.”
Djokovic’s lawyers are once again appealing. They won their first case, but it is widely expected to be more difficult to sway judge Kelly this time around.
If the world No. 1’s appeal is rejected on Sunday, deportation proceedings will begin on Monday — the same day the Australian Open begins and Djokovic is scheduled to play his first-round match in the top half of the draw.
discuss
It’s a mess and nobody is coming up smelling of roses.
I really don’t know whether is it worth fighting the case for Djoko this second time round; if he loses he will be deported and I think he will be banned from entering Australia for three years! I thought that is rather harsh!
Why not he withdraws from the AO and leaves Australia on his own accord, I think that way he would not be banned from entering Australia the next time he comes, if he satisfies the entry requirements.
Why risk the chances of winning the AO for the next three years? Unless, of course he thinks he’s going to retire soon and will not be playing professional tennis from next year onwards (unlikely I think).
I think it’s because he knows he’s running out of time to win a another major given the growing competition.
Murray could be a serious contender for Wimbledon this year and Federer is a chance at playing, as well.
Novak is not stupid; he would already assessed his calendar and best opportunities and the AO was at the top of his list.
He knows that beating Rafa two years in a row at RG is not high probability, even with Rafa being outside his prime.
And the USO tends to favour the younger players.
Lucky,
I think Novak should withdraw. That would be the best thing for him because then he won’t be banned for three years. However, given how narcissistic and self-centered he is I don’t see him doing it.
A female Czechoslovakian player was deported for the same reason that Novak is facing. She was in the pool swimming when police came and took her away to be deported. She is already back home.she did not have lawyers and the clout of Novak to fight it. But the rules need to apply to everyone equally.
Novak has been given special treatment. This is all on him. If he stays then he will be the only unvaccinated player there. Why? It makes a mockery of the rules and procedures in place to protect people.
Djokovic has a strong defence, given he hasn’t made any anti-vaccination statements since the beginning of the pandemic, which is what the Government is trying to use against him.
However, it’s implicit that he is anti-vaccination, given he hasn’t been vaccinated and hasn’t made a public announcement changing his views.
It will be interesting to see if he can weasel his way out of this one.
In court documents submitted after the hearing, lawyers for the Serbian tennis star said it was not open to Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, on the material before him, to declare their client held well-known anti-vax views.
Although Djokovic has refused to take the jab, his lawyers told the court his strongest public statement against vaccination dated back almost two years, to April 2020, before the first COVID-19 vaccines were available.
“There was no evidence before the respondent that Mr Djokovic had made any comments about his vaccination status or expressed any ‘views’ regarding vaccination at any time during which he has been in Australia … or at any other time in any other location (post April 2020)” his lawyers submitted.
Mr Hawke’s decision to pursue deportation proceedings against the world’s best tennis player on grounds that his global profile, public opposition to vaccination and disregard for following COVID-19 restrictions may fuel the anti-vax movement in Australia has elevated the Djokovic saga from a dispute about travel papers into something well beyond its bureaucratic origins.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
He also mentions lequipe lack of isolation and irresponsible behaviour
However I think the govmt has a weak case and djoko will win the case and play . His lawyers request of giving him a full bench was granted whereas govnt wanted just one judge , so it’s anyways advantage Djokovic
Who said the government has a weak case? Are you aware that a female Czechoslovakian tennis player has already been deported for the exact same reason? The police came and took her and deported her. Unfortunately, she did not have high priced lawyers and the clout if being #1. So why dies she get deported and not Novak?
You keep going on about him playing. You don’t seem to grasp what he has done. Fair is fair. If that female player was deported, then Novak should go, too.m
Well if he loses the case, he’ll be toast for the next three years (at the AO)! It’s really high risk for him, moreover with this saga, I doubt he’ll be well prepared for this AO.
Frankly, I see Zverev as the favourite for this AO (I was hoping that Rafa could avoid Zverev’s quarter, too bad!). Zverev is playing well (winning the Olympics gave him so much confidence and he went on to win the WTF!). Zverev had reached three SFs of the slams out of all four that he played, very good results! Not even Meddy could do that nor Tsitsipas.
I will not rule out Rafa, he always has a tough draw here and with all that’s happening here who knows how it’s going to affect the players’ psyches!! I mean, will he (Novak) or will he not play? There’s no doubt it has disrupted their focus including Novak’s. It’s really unfair that they have left the decision this late!! Ridiculous!! I too feel that a 3 yr ban is harsh!
However, Vamos Rafa all the way!!
It’s not a 3 year ban yet. It’s not even yet decided he won’t play
By the way, is Stan and Theim in the draw?
Thiem is out injured still. I don’t think Stan is playing either.
Don’t know what’s going to happen with NoVax. I’d love to be rid of him but at this point, like most people, I’d just like it to be OVER.
Best comment on twitter: Never has a bigger prick been more afraid of a tiny jab.
NoVax behavior has been inexplicable. With so much at stake why doesn’t he just get the damn shot? I’m beginning to believe that he truly believes it’s going to do something terrible to him and ruin his “sacred body”. I dunno. He’s got a lot of belief. Crazy beliefs in my opinion. Maybe it would even kill him.
There is little reason to believe that NoVax had covid in December. He said he did but it’s quite obvious that he would lie about anything at this point and much of Serbia would be delighted to lie for him. Serbia’s got some bad history and it seems to have left a lot of them with an inferiority complex that justifies anything they want to do or say.
Why have government gone with this risk to public order strategy? It seems pretty tenuous and quite odd when there were so many issues in play. The Morrisson government is unbelievably incompetent and may have screwed things up yet again.
Does NK ever shut up?! He goes on and on about every single issue as if he was a mix of Mandela and the Dalai Lama.
Sagacity is not his middle name.
NK is another attention seeker. He is probably annoyed that he is losing out on all this spotlight, lol!
I’m really sorry to hear about Theim and Stan! I mean the line up is pretty lean given the circumstances. It also goes to show how much Rafa and Roger have contributed to the sport above more than just tennis! In their hay days stuff like this just did not happen, they carried the sport with dignity!!!! Good things never last I suppose, sigh!
VANOS Rafa!!
I don’t suppose people have seen the appalling social media posts between NK and his girlfriend ( sorry can’t remember her name) which came out on small tennis sites.
In them NK taunts her about his sleeping with strippers, calls her toxic, and suggests she do away with herself. The guy is loathsome.
They came out in the autumn last year.
A Serbian health official has said Novax was notified of the ‘positive ‘ result on the 16 so knew when he was with all those children. So yet another lie.
He has to be chucked out! This is getting ridiculous..!
Im still a huge fan of his tennis its the person more and more I cant have. Even if he withdraws , is he only going to be able to play when the restrictions allow antivaxxers ?
Its disappointing for the game ifhe doesnt play but its the right thing to do .
How funny is it watching Kyrgios getting involved at every opportunity to try and stay relevant. Like anyone gives two fcks what he thinks.
looks like Novak will play AO 2022. We will find out soon but I that’s the impression I get.
Why the hell is he going to play? That is outrageous! I hope he gets it from the crowd. He is disgusting.
He won’t play anything. They will deport him. If anyone actually watched the court case, one can surmise that it will be difficult for Djokovic to win this one. Let’s see what happens.
It’s very difficult to overturn the immigration minister’s decision bc of the extensive powers he has. You must have an indisputable, cogent and powerful reason to prove that he acted irrationally in his decision. And from what I’ve seen and heard, Djokovic lawyers are clutching at straws.
110% agree with you VR
is that you, hawkeye? if yes, high five!
Virtual high five right back at you VR!
Yes it me lol
Djokovic wont win. He’s a 8/1 chance after everything that’s happened and the amount of pressure he will be under.
The other players will be doing everything to take him down also because they’ve had to abide by the rules.
If you’re so confident he is going to win, put your house down on him.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/send-him-home-poll-reveals-overwhelming-support-for-decision-to-deport-novak-djokovic-20220115-p59oh9.html
With so much anti-Djokovic sentiment, good luck is all I can say. At 35, your lapses in concentration increase exponentially by the week.
Lol, so what do u say for me at near 51?! 🤣🤣
This has been such a distraction that any form Djokovic was bringing into this years AO has become irrelevant.
Djokovic can’t win either way. This is too big a hurdle even for a mental rock like Djokovic.
we’ll never know, but I agree
The charade is over. Let’s get on with the tennis!
C’mon Andy!
Margot,
I think it’s great to see Andy looking good again. He has really hung in there. God bless him.
Djoko loses his case and will be deported. See, isn’t it better that he withdraws and leaves Australia instead of fighting to stay? He may now face a three year ban (from entering Australia)! Perhaps the court will make an exception and lift the ban, if not it will be too harsh a punishment for Djoko.
Not really, he took the risk and new the potential consequences of his actions. Djoko is very knowledgeable when it comes to the law.
Lucky,
You are right. Novak should have done the right thing and withdraw voluntarily. We don’t know if they will enforce a three year ban. The most important thing was to get him out of there now.
Novak brought this on himself. He knew what the facts were. He knew he traveled before he came to Australia. It is his responsibility to make sure his visa is filled out properly.
I want to say one more thing that I believe is important. This is not about anyone’s personal freedom. It is about getting vaccinated so that you don’t spread the virus. We can’t smoke in restaurants or on planes.Why? Because smoking causes lung cancer. Children must be in a car seat in automobiles. We have to wear seat belts and observe the speed limit. There is no such thing as absolute freedom.
My generation was the first to get the polio vaccine. We all got it in school. There was no nonsense about not getting it. My parents had to grow up with the fear of polio. I remember my mother telling me how my grandmother put camphor around the necks of my mother and aunt when they were young. Old wives tales. That is what they had. There are pictures of children in iron lungs. Many died or were left paralyzed. The vaccine eradicated polio. Vaccines eradicated small pox and measles.
Vaccines have been the key to ridding the wired of terrible diseases that kill. Ignorance and misinformation and flat out lies and conspiracy theories have created doubt. It is unfortunate that so many have dyed when they could have been saved.
Ridding the WORLD
Precisely!! I say SM has been the death nail of society! We say education can only make a wise man wiser and an fool more foolish! SM has quadrupled that possibility!! We have so many armchair critics of everything, no wonder we have not yet invented the stairway to heaven yet, sigh!!
Mona,
You said it! Only now are sites like facebook and Twitter starting to crack down on some of the craziness. It is positively toxic. People are eating dirt to get rid of Covid? The insanity of conspiracy theories is out of control.
Vaccines have helped to get rid of terrible diseases. Health experts are beside themselves as they watch people die needlessly rather than get vaccinated.
Seeing people fighting over having to wear masks on planes, makes me sick. When did people start acting like overgrown babies? Assaulting stewardesses on planes? It is a disgrace.
Then we have Republican governors like DeSantis here in Florida, who are touting the state for its freedom. Oh yeah! Freedom to come here and die of Covid!
How’s the Serbian President; best bulll shit artists on the planet. They actually believe the shit they dribble.
A big reminder that a huge amount of the world is biased and inherently dishonest. That’s probably the big lesson out of this.
Posting here after a while. Hope everyone is well. So, Novak could have a career slam of deportations and deflaults??
Just needs the French and Wimbledon. He is closest to it than anyone else. Should put it in his GOAT CV.
hello Atul!
Hello Vr. Hope all is well with you and your family.
lol! I believe NoVax is also close to the retirement slam – I know he’s retired from both RG and Wimbly. Not sure about AO and USO. If he really insists on his no vax policy he may be retired from tennis soon, the way things are going with covid.
he has come close at the French before
Hello Atul,
They said that he will have problems in New York at the USO. A basketball player refused to get the vaccine and he can’t play at home games. There are laws in New York about being vaccinated.
I don’t know how the French Open will handle it. Or Wimbledon. The way things are going, Novak’s anti vaccine position will become more untenable.
French sports minister has said France just needs neg pcr test and some quarantine , no vaccination mandatory. So RG us green . I read Europe may do away itself with mandatory vaccines .
Wimpy not sure . As of now nyork is ruled out.
However I don’t think we have heard the last of this. Novak has said he won’t say anything till AO ends ,maybe part 2 coming next.
So a lucky loser replaces Novak in the draw. Can anyone stop Zverev and Medvedev?
For Rafa, I think his draw is very tough and he’ll be tested by an in-form Kokkinakis who is likely to win a set. The real test is then Hurkacz (assuming they both get there) and then of course Sacha would be the ultimate test. You We can expect Rafa to reach the final if he reaches the semi and you never know in the final. I think game wise his toughest challenge is Zverev.
Hard to have expectations but there is of course some hope. I am glad he played those 3 matches in Melbourne and has been practicing well!
VR,
You are somewhat more optimistic than I am. I guess I don’t want to get my hopes up. Can Rafa play himself into form? I don’t know. He has an ugly draw. If he had not been off for six months then maybe. But best of five set matches are tough after a long layoff.
I am not that familiar with this guy Hurkacz. I have been hearing about him. I am just going to take it one match at a time and be grateful that he is playing again.
NNY, sent you sn email but not sure it went through?
VR,
I checked and I didn’t get it. It has not changed since we emailed in the last. Maybe I should check my spam or junk folder.
VR,
it was in my junk email. I marked it as not junk but now I can’t find it. Try again. Now it should go through.
VR,
I did get it. But I have been having trouble with my email for a while. I can get it but can’t reply. I have to call my email provider. It’s a password problem that they have to fix. I couldn’t deal with it because I was moving. Now I can deal with it.
I will let you knit when it has been fixed. At least you know that once I get it fixed, you can email me.
Well, the Djokovic-Aussie saga is finally over for this year! I am thankful for that. I love my drama but this was waaaayyyyy too much. No heroes in this saga. Black eyes for everyone involved.
As for the 3 year ban, who knows? It will depend on the state of the pandemic, I think. Maybe NoVax will finally get vaxxed if it comes down to it. Maybe he would have this time if Tiley hadn’t encouraged him to believe he could sneak by. NoVax won’t tell, so we’ll never know.
Tiley should now do the decent thing and resign. He is behind all this. They should never have broken their own deadline for exemptions on the 10 December for a start.
It’s hard not to believe he basically gave Novax the nod and the wink.
Yes. It’s not all Novaxs .He should never have travelled to Australia in the first place.This fiasco should never have happened
The only other person who has blame besides Novak, is this guy Tiley. I guess he wanted to find a way for Novak to play. Novak should never have been allowed in the country. Then this circus could have been avoided.
Absolutely, Tiley has a lot to answer for and don’t think we’ve heard the end of this as far as he”s concerned.
The Grateful Dead summed it all up in their classic song, “He’s Gone”.
That’s what I feel!! If they had followed and abided by the rules and Not try to circumvent, this whole tennis circus would not have occurred! The worse thing is when ppl feel they’re entitled!!!it gets nasty!!