Australian Open participation
Incorrect information on the entry form could be fatal for Djokovic
Fights to participate in the Australian Open: tennis star Novak Djokovic (archive image)
© Andrej Isakovic / AFP
After the tennis star’s success in court, it is up to the Australian government whether Novak Djokovic can play at the Australian Open. Problematic for the Serb: He is said to have given a wrong entry when entering the country.
After the court decision in his favor, Novak Djokovic still has no certainty about his participation in the Australian Open. Before a decision by the government around the responsible immigration minister Alex Hawke, who can still revoke the tennis professional’s visa, details from an entry form could cause the 34-year-old Serb additional difficulties. As reported by the Australian media, a statement in the document does not correspond to the truth: Contrary to the information, Djokovic had been traveling in the 14 days before the flight to Australia.
Novak Djokovic apparently kept silent about stays in Serbia and Spain
Photos and videos published in social networks show that the athlete, who lives in Monaco, was training both in his home country of Serbia and in Spain during the period in question before he traveled down under. To what extent this has an impact on the decision of Immigration Secretary Hawke or is relevant in this context is still unclear. However, incorrect information on the form is referred to as a serious offense.
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Djokovic was refused entry into the country last week because he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus and the documentation of his medical exemption was insufficient for the authorities. That is why he was staying in a deportation hotel in Melbourne at the weekend. Because the border officials had not given him the agreed time to clarify, the decision was overturned during a court hearing on Monday.
Czech tennis player Renata Voracova, whose visa was also canceled and who was being held in the same deportation hotel as Djokovic, left Australia on Saturday.
The men’s professional tennis organization ATP has now criticized the ambiguities in the entry requirements to Australia. One respects the victims of the Australian population during the corona pandemic and the country’s strict rules, according to a statement published on Tuesday (local time). However, complications in recent days in connection with the entry of players to Australia have shown the need for more clarity and clearer communication and application of the rules.
The events that led to the trial of Novak Djokovic’s objection to his visa revoked were detrimental to everyone involved and in particular to the well-being of the world number one and his preparation for the Australian Open. In principle, the ATP advocates vaccination against the corona virus and encourages all players to do so.
The Australian Open will be held from January 17th to 30th. Djokovic has won the tournament nine times – more often than anyone else. He is aiming for his 21st Grand Slam title. This would leave him behind his rivals Rafael Nadal from Spain and Roger Federer from Switzerland and become the sole Grand Slam record tournament winner.
