Australia denies entry to Novak Djokovic and his vaccine exemption - National Post

The world's No. 1 ranked men's tennis player was denied entry to compete in the Australian Open ostensibly because of an error with his visa application

Reuters

Sudipto Ganguly, Nick Mulvenney and John Mair

Publishing date:

Jan 05, 2022 • 28 minutes ago • 5 minute read • 170 Comments

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia, February 21, 2021 Photo by REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/File Photo

Novak Djokovic landed in Melbourne on Wednesday amid controversy but was denied entry into Australia because of an error with his visa application.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced Tuesday he’d been granted a medical exemption that would allow him to compete at the Australian Open without being vaccinated — a decision that was met with outrage by local residents who have been subjected to months of lockdown during the pandemic.

And when Djokovic arrived in Australia, one official was unmoved by the error with his visa, which stemmed from paperwork being incorrectly completed in regard to his medical exemption status.

Jaala Pulford, the acting sports minister in the state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, said the state wouldn’t support his application.

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

This came after the prime minister of Australia said he wanted proof of Djokovic’s exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine that cleared the defending Australian Open champion — and nine-time winner — to participate in the tournament later this month.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic, 34, would be on “the next plane home” if his public claim of a legitimate exemption can’t be proved in a timely fashion.

The Serbian had said he wasn’t likely to play in the event based on harsh quarantine rules. But a two-step application process to Tennis Australia led to the exemption.

Exemptions can be granted based on “adverse reactions to previous vaccines” and a history of heart inflammation, among others, according to Tennis Australia. The reason for Djokovic’s exemption is not being shared at this time, the organization’s CEO said.

“We completely understand and empathize with people being upset about the fact that Novak has come in because of his statements over the past couple of years around vaccination,” Craig Tiley of Tennis Australia said. “However, it is ultimately up to him to discuss with the public his condition, if he chooses to do that, and the reasons why he received an exemption.”

More than 90 percent of Australia has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination and the country has been strict with travel and large gatherings.

Djokovic said Tuesday he was ready for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 17, but his vaccination status is not confirmed. His exemption caused ripple effects in the public over what some termed undue special treatment for athletes.

“We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that,” Morrison said at a press conference regarding the spike in COVID-19 cases this month. “If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.”

Morrison has faced an enormous backlash over his government’s decision to grant Djokovic a medical exemption from vaccination to play at the Open, where the player would be bidding for a record 21st major title.

Australia, especially the state of Victoria, has endured the world’s longest cumulative lockdown and an outbreak of the Omicron variant has sent case numbers to record levels.

Djokovic, who has won nine titles at Melbourne Park including the last three, confirmed on Tuesday that had received a vaccination exemption to allow him to play at the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 17.

Australian tennis great Rod Laver, after whom the main showcourt at Melbourne Park in the state of Victoria is named, warned that Djokovic might face hostility from the local crowd.

“I think it might get ugly,” Laver told News Corp. “I’d think the Victorian people would be thinking ‘Yes I’d love to see him play and compete, but at the same time there’s a right way and a wrong way.’

“Yes, you’re a great player and you’ve performed and won so many tournaments, so it can’t be physical. So what is the problem?”

Melbourne local Christine Wharton said it was a “disgrace.”

“We’ve all done the right thing, we’ve all gone out and got our jabs and our boosters, and we have someone that’s come from overseas and all of a sudden he’s been exempt and can play, and I think it’s an absolute disgrace and I won’t be watching it.”

EXPLANATION ‘HELPFUL’

Organizers Tennis Australia have stipulated that everyone at Melbourne Park must be vaccinated or have a medical exemption granted by an independent panel of experts.

With the exemption, Djokovic will not be required to quarantine and will enjoy the same freedoms in Melbourne as someone who is vaccinated.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said the independent panel consisted of doctors from the fields of immunology, infectious disease and general practice and all exemptions met conditions set out by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

“We completely understand and empathize with … people being upset about the fact that Novak has come in because of his statements over the past couple of years around vaccination,” he told reporters.

Tiley acknowledged that questions will be asked about the exemption and the only person who can answer them is Djokovic.

“It’ll certainly be helpful if Novak was to explain the conditions in which he’s sought an exemption … but ultimately it’s up to him,” he said.

Djokovic has declined to reveal his vaccination status and had said he was unsure whether he would compete in Melbourne. Playing will give him the chance to nose ahead of Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, who also have 20 Grand Slam crowns.

In a social media post on Tuesday Djokovic said “Let’s go 2022” alongside a picture of himself at an airport as he confirmed he was heading to Australia with the exemption.

“I think lots of people in the Victorian community will find this to be a disappointing outcome,” acting Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford told reporters.

“The process is incredibly robust. It’s de-identified and we are where we are, and so the tennis can begin.”

The decision has drawn a mixed reaction from players.

American doubles specialist Nicole Melichar-Martinez tweeted: “I don’t understand why @DjokerNole is getting so much hate for his vaccine exemption. He’s within the rules, and the government could have said ‘no’ but they didn’t.”

Australian Alex De Minaur said: “It is what it is, I just hope that the other players … I heard there were other cases as well … they got exemptions, so I hope they will all fit the criteria.”

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; additional reporting by Nick Mulvenney and John Mair; Editing by Peter Rutherford and Alison Williams)

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2022-01-05 18:00:00Z
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