Novak Djokovic’s fellow Serbian Nemanja Matic, an experienced midfielder with Manchester United, was among those who reacted with disdain to Australia’s decision to deport the world No.1.
An “extremely disappointed” Djokovic accepted his Australian Open fate and left the country late on Sunday night, unable to defend his title and facing the possibility of losing his place as the world’s No.1 men’s player.
Fellow tennis pros, family members, and other mates took to social media to lambast the Australian authorities for what Andy Murray called a “shit show.”
Matic loaded an Instagram story to show support for his sporting friend, saying “your glory and their shame will live forever.”
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil, who alongside Djokovic helped form the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2020, said his friend would have been happy to stay home, had it been made clear to him he didn’t meet the criteria for a medical exemption.
“Novak would never have gone to Australia if he had not been given an exemption to enter the country by the government (which he did receive; hence Judge Kelly’s initial ruling),” Pospisil tweeted.
“He would have skipped the Australian Open and been home with his family and no one would be talking about this mess.
“There was a political agenda at play here with the elections coming up which couldn’t be more obvious. This is not his fault. He did not force his way into the country and did not ‘make his own rules’; he was ready to stay home.”
There was plenty more support for the Serbian within tennis circles.
Three-time major winner Andy Murray told the BBC: “I don’t like he is in this situation and I don’t like he has been in detention.
“The situation has not been good all round for anyone … It feels everything here happened extremely last minute and that’s why it became such a shit show.”
There was an emotional outpouring of anger and support in Serbia, where the country’s president Aleksandar Vukic urged him to come home and the prime minister Ana Brnabic called his treatment “scandalous”.
And his family was, as ever, vocal in their support.
“We are very disappointed by a federal court ruling and the fact that Novak has to leave Australia,” the family said in a statement.
“These are difficult moments, notably for Novak, but what we all have to do — namely us, his family — is to give him support more than ever.
His father, Srdjan posted on Instagram.
“The assassination attempt on the best sportsman in the world is over, 50 bullets to Novak’s chest. See you in Paris,” Srdjan wrote.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley is now in the cross hairs after the unsavoury incident.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the 37-year-old Djokovic may have potentially played his last match at the Australian Open as a result of Sunday’s decision.
“It’s a matter or him to consider … but a three-year exclusion could apply,” she told Sky News on Monday.
“(The exclusion) can be waived in compelling circumstances, but it’s not a matter for today or tomorrow but some time in the future.”
However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic may be able to return to the country under the right circumstances.
Morrison said the rules were clear surrounding entry to Australia, which needed to be enforced.
“The border principle is important and we were going to hold that line and it was effective,” he told 2GB.
“This is someone who sought to come to Australia and not comply with entry rules. We have always been consistent and strong and very effective in maintaining the integrity of borders.”
The prime minister said Djokovic did not have a valid medical exemption to enter the country for the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.
Djokovic was using a previous COVID-19 infection as a reason for a medical exemption not to be vaccinated, and while it was approved by a Victorian government and Tennis Australia panel, it was not valid in the view of the federal government.
“Djokovic was wrong, it’s as simple as that,” Mr Morrison said.
Ms Andrews said if Djokovic wanted to return to Australia, he would need to demonstrate convincing reasons to re-enter during the three-year ban.
“Any applicant would need to go through the process, it doesn’t matter if you’re Novak Djokovic or anyone else … it’s not a straight forward process,” she said.
“The saga could have been avoided if Novak Djokovic was vaccinated.”
Labor home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally said while the opposition welcomed the decision to deport Djokovic, the government had “bungled” the situation.
“Anyone could have seen this crisis coming. The Australian Open was not a secret event,” she told ABC TV.
“Novak Djokovic, a known anti-vax proponent declared he wanted to come to Australia and yet the Morrison government did nothing.
“This has been a monumental bungle at our borders by the Morrison government. They want to run around and pat themselves on the back about it. They deserve a kick up the backside.”
While one world No.1 left the country, Australia’s women’s orld No.1 Barty returns to Rod Laver Arena as the headline act in prime time, followed by the all-German contest between men’s third seed Alexander Zverev and Daniel Altmaier.
Barty takes on Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko and is a hot favourite to break Australia’s infamous 44-year Open title drought.
“It feels like an eternity since I played here at home,” Barty said, having fallen to Czech Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park a year ago.
“It’s exciting going into it. I’m very fortunate and grateful that I’m in the draw and I’ve got a chance just like everyone else.”
Women’s defending champion Naomi Osaka will take on unseeded Colombian Camila Osorio in the second match of the day session at Rod Laver Arena, before 2009 men’s champion Rafael Nadal begins his bid for a record 21st grand slam title against American Marcos Giron.
Australian women’s No.2 Ajla Tomljanovic and local men John Millman, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth are also in singles action on Monday.
Kokkinakis meets Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann, fresh from claiming his first ATP Tour title in front of home fans in Adelaide on Saturday.
(With AAP)
Son of Coco
Guest
Sorry for the delay, Chris and no doubt you've probably moved on...in any event I'll still answer There's not too much I disagree with there, except I think you've probably had a very real awakening in understanding what Australia has always been, not what it is becoming. We are quite simply not as open as what people think we are to be, and never have been. Did you know that border force can take your phone and demand your pin so they can access your phone? I'm not entirely sure why you are outraged by this? This is absolutely standard practice in every liberal democracy in the world. Why should I (or you) allow ANYONE access to your private data if you have done nothing wrong? But he had done something wrong. He tried to enter the country illegally. Fully agree on the disgrace that citizens were locked out though. That was horrible, but yet, unfortunately entirely representative of who we are, not who we are becoming.
Aiden
Guest
And now the US Open. All a conspiracy to shame the great nation of Serbia obviously. In fact, that's got to be the new conspiracy. This entire pandemic, it's all a plot against Serbia. World leaders were aware that every Serbian nailed their individual and national identity entirely on one sporting star and ... the evil plan went from there.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Just another whinge, as IMO, he should have never been here with his anti vax mentality. As most know now it's not ' just a flu' as many have called
Kris
Guest
The Joker and the Clown
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Will we have the same rant over the French Open?
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
The 50 bullets in the chest comment was in pretty poor taste given those events
chris
Guest
Maybe you shouldn't be let near a keyboard?
chris
Guest
This govt wouldn't even allow its own citizens back in! Stuck overseas in some Covid infested nation and this govt sat on it's hands and shut the borders to even it's own citizens. Is that the Australia you want? Because that's what we have become and hopefully this Djokovic shambles will be the end of this disgraceful govt.
chris
Guest
We are allowing this govt to be more and more authoritative and secretive each day. This latest episode with Djokovic just highlights what we are becoming. Did you know that border force can take your phone and demand your pin so they can access your phone? For no reason. Why should I (or you) allow ANYONE access to your private data if you have done nothing wrong? All in the name of "protecting Australians". There is no transparency and no recourse with this lot. Our freedoms are being eroded and we allow it. He should never have been given a visa to come here in the first place. Once they did, and they knew they did, he should not have been treated the way he was.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
funny how it's only tennis fans or Serbs are the ones complaining. Pretty much everyone else says "Good on Australia" for standing up and maintaining it's rules and that EVERYONE must abide by the rules. NY Times, BBC, NBC News etc all say "Good on you Aussie" https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open/hammered-at-home-admired-abroad-djokovic-lie-australia-cant-swallow/news-story/64a1af6de83ef65f146412008576d523
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I am so sick of this story. I'm no great tennis fan but I really only want to read about AO now. ND and IF are two humans who have taken up way too many reporting inches already
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
While I'm in a finger pointing, pitch fork grabbing, who to blaming kinda mood I think back to 12 months ago when Jayne Hrdlicka said at the championship presentation: "It's been a time of heartfelt challenge, deep loss and extraordinary sacrifice for everyone. "With vaccinations on the way, rolling out in many countries around the world, it's now a time for optimism and hope for the future." So true.
RT
Roar Rookie
Of course Djokovic not isolating back home is our business. It reflects on his character and he may have committed a crime. A criminal record affects you later when getting visas and not just to Australia.
Trung
Guest
I’m not an infectious disease specialist or epidemiologist but I am a doctor for what it worth. Although I will not state any special significance to my opinion due to this. In any case the exemption for vaccination after a recent Covid infection is for Australian citizen for recent infection but not for overseas travellers. The rationale is that for overseas travellers it is sometimes difficult to determine the legitimacy of positive Covid-19 test from overseas. However I do think that is a bit discriminatory to people from overseas as a blanket rule. My opinion while differ to federal laws for medical exemption is not completely outside mainstream considering that it is in line with doctors assessing medical exemption with the Australian Open and Victorian government.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
I do understand but seems you think you’re an expert & because you think differently to most others you make out like you know what you’re talking about. Why is the rule illogical? Why shouldn’t the rule be that way? Because you don’t think so? Are you a leading Epidemiologist? Are you some sort of expert on law? I guess you’re entitled to your opinion….that’s one thing I do understand. Rules are rules whether you agree or not…….do you understand that! Djokovic broke the rules, which is not the first time if you’d like to cast your mind back to when this pandemic began & the infamous Adria $hitstorm! He’s no special to any other person. He gambled, he lost, end of story!
Trung
Guest
People who have recent Covid infection are low risk. The main reason why we still recommend vaccination is because the antibodies do wear out with natural infection If someone can produce blood test that prove they still have the antibodies. It is absolutely fair to conclude they are low risk. People who have recent infections who can provide antibodies levels should be exempted from vaccination subjected to regular antibodies testing (let say every 3 to 6 months)
Simoc
Guest
Who cares. Only Serbians. Novak wants to be the non-vaccinated superstar and instead he's the dumb ass loser. it's easy to get the vaccination and play but he wanted the headlines. Dumbo the clown. If he's finished tennis will be a better spectacle. He's boring as hell to watch.
Reg Grundy
Guest
Novak, Novak, Novak! Media are certainly squeezing as mush as they can out of it. SMH Domain has now done a story on his sprawling property portfolio in which place he will lie low for awhile. LOL!
sheek
Roar Guru
Daddy Disnick, I don't think there's any more explaining. i'm getting tired of this, so I'm not going to trawl back through everything the was said. Suffice to say, the Feds would have spent a lot of time framing their reasoning along the lines that made sure the court understood it was the Feds who were responsible for health, immigration, borders, etc & the court should not assume to usurp the power of the popularly elected govt. I think the Feds case was deliberately broad to ensure that within the timeframe, it was not possible to go through their assertion with a fine tooth comb. WTF, they are the national authority. Their problem is they fluffed around before deciding yes, they are in control. I think James is on top of this.
Son of Coco
Guest
If Djoker didn’t meet the Federal Govt’s medical exemption criteria, why didn’t Hawke simply cancel his visa based on this? Instead, he concocted some fanciful anti-vax sentiment as the main reason for his decision to deport Djoker. While the government would have won such an argument, it would have taken longer...there was also the risk that Djokovic's lawyers may have been able to pick holes in it and embarrass the government. The government did Djokovic a favour by offering a concession on it to get the whole thing offered faster. The key in their wording was "assume" and not "want to investigate further". None of that was an endorsement or validation of his exemption, and crucially no one could use it as a precedent.