After months of uncertainty, world No.1 and nine-times champion Novak Djokovic has finally confirmed his participation at the 2022 Australian Open.
Djokovic took to social media on Tuesday night to announce he was on his way to Australia after being granted a medical exemption.
“I’ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022,” he said on Instagram.
The Serbian superstar had repeatedly refused to disclose his vaccination status after the Victorian government mandated that only fully vaccinated players – and fans and staff – would be allowed into Melbourne Park.
Figures within tennis, however, have initially either been quiet, or coy at the news, though this is partly explained by it breaking late in the Australian evening when many of the players preparing in Australia for the grand slam were either heading for bed or away from media outlets.
Jamie Murray, the British doubles player, was neither having just competed in the ATP Cup. When asked his thoughts he said: “I think if it was me that wasn’t vaccinated I wouldn’t be getting an exemption.” After a pause he added: “But well done to him for getting clear to come to Australia and compete.”
The reaction of the players alongside Murray at the press conference suggested this was a minefield few were prepared to cross. Certainly the Australian players James Duckworth and Alex de Minaur were more circumspect, if not exactly overjoyed at the news.
“I don’t know the criteria for exemptions ,apparently it’s an independent panel, he must have fit the criteria somehow, so, yeah, if he’s fit the criteria, then, yeah, he should be able to come,” said Duckworth.
De Minaur responded with a laugh: “That’s very politically correct of you.”
The Australian No.1 added: “I just think it’s just very interesting, that’s all I’m going to say. But, hey, it is what it is, I just hope that the other players that I heard there were other cases as well, they got exemptions, so I hope they will all fit the criteria.”
Richard Ings, the former head of Australia’s anti-doping authority ASADA, and a keen advocate of vaccination, was less reticent.
“Clearly all this talk about vaccination status being personal and private only held water up to the point of tossing it back in the face of vaccinated Australians,” he wrote on twitter.
Ings was replying to the post in which Djokovic announced he was heading for Melbourne, accompanied by a photo of him with packed bags at an airport.
Seven hours after sending this the Serbian had received 32,400 likes, 6,500 retweets and 5,900 replies.
Given he has 8.8m followers those numbers are not particularly large. More pertinent was the content. There was a significant hard-core of support, much of it from compatriots or anti-vaxxers.
But there was far more criticism, often very strongly worded, a lot of it from Australians, many of whom also took aim at their own Government .
The response was similar in old media. Under the sub-headline ‘Fury at No-vax grand slam shock’ the splash headline in the Brisbane Courier-Mail was ‘You must be Djoking’.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Yes I know you were trying to be funny, I was pretty worked up about this subject as I have had quite a few family and friends who have not been able to get home to say final goodbyes/funerals and we have been told to suck it up. Then this pirk is allowed ? I was furious. Will wait and see what happens on that front. Regarding my previous comment, you have my apologies.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Tennis attracts fawning fans of otherwise unpopular players eg Tomic, Kyrgios etc. Djokovic remember was having a lend of the public last year. We were to believe he beat the top players over gruelling 5 setters despite this injury. https://7news.com.au/sport/tennis/djokovic-into-open-quarters-despite-injury-c-2163609
sheek
Roar Guru
Jason, Actually, I was trying to be funny. We agree it seems, so surprised by your reply.
Jason
Roar Rookie
"Put their hand up" , not likely. Once they see how the cards fall then they will step in. Breed apathy, that's the game.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Normally like your contributions, but alas, you think you are clever. Oh well.
Danno
Roar Rookie
Not his fault if your trying to play the game , a lot of people here are pointing the finger in the right direction which is aust open organisers , tourism Victoria and ultimately vic govt , let’s see if fed govt steps in and overrides exemption, not holding my breath but , yawn
Danno
Roar Rookie
Aussies are generally fair dinkum and not dumb ,you had a few months ago scenarios where people were not able to see their sick relatives/family because of covid/border restrictions and for the sake of the prestige of the aust open they just fold , it’s a like a big middle finger to the rest of the people that sacrificed
jameswm
Roar Guru
Statement from Home Affairs Minister suggests government could overturn Novak Djokovic’s exemption to enter Australia. The ABF Acting Commissioner is believed to be reviewing an “issue” with the tennis star’s Australian Travel Declaration. Department is yet to respond From ABC Defence correspondent Andrew Greene
jameswm
Roar Guru
It’s a story on Fox Sports. “World No.1 Novak Djokovic is heading to Australia after receiving an exemption allowing him to enter the country and compete in the year’s first grand slam. The Australian Border Force though could have something to say about it being this is all over. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews released a strong statement on Wednesday afternoon, reiterating that Djokovic must “provide acceptable proof” that he can enter the country despite not being vaccinated. “Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with our strict border requirements,” the statement read. “While the Victorian Government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth Government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border. “If any arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travellers. “
Son of Coco
Guest
Is this legit?
jameswm
Roar Guru
The Aust Border Police have issued a statement saying there is an issue with Djokovic's application and they are looking into it. They also said they decide who comes into the country, not the Vic Govt. I am not sure if the ABP are obliged to follow an exemption from the Vic Govt. They may force him to do quarantine for 10-14 days.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I don't think they have to.
Son of Coco
Guest
And who conducted his serology test? Was it an approved clinic? Indeed, did he take a serology test? Was he asked? Many, many questions.
sheek
Roar Guru
Rossi, Which one of the 4 'wise' monkeys are you? - Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil or do no evil? It's fans like you who really annoy me. As long as you can get your fix watching sport, you don't care for a second about the integrity surrounding it. But I guess you're not alone. About 90-95% of sports fans are like you. Mindless vegetables being force-fed what "they" want you to watch. The world might be a better place if more of us rebelled against hypocrisy & double standards.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
While ever all of the information is suppressed it will invite cynicism
Son of Coco
Guest
And the biggest problem is that - beyond the word of Tiley (who is frankly untrustworthy) - we will never know whether the applications were truly anonymous or not. What was to stop, for example, Djokovic or his manager giving a quick text to Tiley saying "hey, Craig. Novak's application number is xx. Pass that onto the "independent" panel, yeah?" Tiley responds with "yeah, no problem. Was definitely doing to do that. Mum's the word though, ok?"
Son of Coco
Guest
Wonderful comment from someone who lied to get an exemption. Tell me, did you rush to get an exemption when you were 6 months old and your parents vaccinated you against polio, tetanus, hepatitis etc? Somehow you managed to survive those torture jabs.
Son of Coco
Guest
TA derive most their money from sponsorship & TV rights, chump. Yes, the govt gives a bit of money, but it's a fraction. Just read their annual reports.
jameswm
Roar Guru
It says the same as everything else. For Novak, either (1) he has an adverse previous reaction to a Covid vaccine or (2) he has conformed as having Covid in the last 6 months (confirmed by a PCR test). It can't be (1) if he's not vaxxed, so has to be (2). But (2) shows natural immunity from past infection isn't very good at preventing re-infection. I don't know if discretion is involved either. How do you prove a past infection without disclosing the country of origin?
Son of Coco
Guest
Racism, really?