Australian Open 2023: Campaign to stop Novak Djokovic entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker says ‘Serb should not be given any relaxation’: Check OUT
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker. He may be barred from entering Australia for the next three years, but Novak Djokovic could still make it to the next Australian Open. Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley hinted that Novak Djokovic may apply for his re-entry ban to be overturned. Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic last played in – and won – the tournament in 2021, when COVID-19 vaccination was not a requirement to enter the country. But the 35-year-old was sensationally eliminated before the 2022 tournament when border forces cancelled his visa, detained him and deported him to Serbia.
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Djokovic attempted to have the decision overturned in court. But his case was dismissed just a day out from Round 1. Along with his visa cancellation came an automatic three-year re-entry ban, meaning the tennis star was expected to miss the AO in 2023, 2024 and 2025. But despite the legal turmoil, Mr Tiley speculated that Djokovic may appeal against the decision to play in the 2023 Australian Open.
“I do know he’d like to return to the AO,” Mr Tiley told the Herald Sun. “[Djokovic is] the nine-time champion and of course we always want the best players in the world to compete. It’s a matter between him and the relevant federal authorities.” In order to enter the country, Djokovic will need to apply for a waiver, to be approved or denied by the federal government. With vaccination no longer a requirement for entry, one immigration law specialist told TND that the reduced restrictions could work in Djokovic’s favour.
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Novak Djokovic was deported before the 2022 Australian Open. Photo: Getty At the time of the last Australian Open, international travellers were required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination under the Australian Travel Declaration. The only individuals exempt from this requirement were children under the age of 12 years and three months. Travellers had to have been vaccinated with any of the TGA-approved vaccinations. Otherwise, they were not considered vaccinated for the purposes of their travel.
Travellers also had to complete pre-departure PCR testing, and provide a negative COVID test upon arrival. Because Djokovic did not meet vaccination requirements, and was not found to have a valid medical exemption, he was deported. But nine months later, restrictions have relaxed, with none of these measures required by Australian authorities.
In order for the federal government to overturn Djokovic’s three-year ban, the player and his team would need to show that his entry is in Australia’s best interests. “He’d have to show that there are compelling circumstances in the interest of Australia to lift that bar,” accredited immigration law specialist Dushan Nikolic told TND. “[A] potential argument may be that it’s in Australia’s interests to have the best tennis player able to compete over the next three years at the Australian Open. “And obviously, I’m sure that it’s possible to put financial arguments forward to support that.”
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Asked whether the drastically different restrictions would help Djokovic’s case, Mr Nikolic said he thought “it would”. Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times. Mr Nikolic said he thought the tennis star had a good case. “So my personal view, is that I would expect him to be able to play next year’s Australian Open.”
With Ash Barty, Roger Federer and Serena Williams retiring this year, Tennis Australia is likely keen to rake in as many big names as possible.
Only Rafael Nadal and Djokovic remain in the contest for the most grand slam titles.
After his stunning AO victory this year, Nadal reigns supreme with 22 grand slam titles – an all-time record.
Djokovic, just one short with 21, will surely be hoping to smash that record. And with Melbourne Park’s hard courts famously his surface of choice, the odds may be in his favour.
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Battle for the GOAT: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Djokovic’s vaccination stance has cost him dearly during the pandemic, keeping him away from the US Open last month and several ATP events around the world.
But it’s a price Djokovic has said he is “willing to pay”.
“I say that everybody has the right to choose or act or say or feel whatever is appropriate for them,” he told the BBC in February.
“The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else.”
Australian Open 2023 – Novak Djokovic AO 2023: It seems like 2022, Australia is not ready to welcome Novak Djokovic for Australian Open 2023 as well. According to an opposition lawmaker, waiving Novak Djokovic’s visa ban to let him play the Australian Open would be a “slap in the face” for Australian people. The former Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said on Monday such a relaxation will be unkind to vaccinated population: Follow Tennis News LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Serbian Djokovic was deported from Australia in the leadup to the Grand Slam in January for declining to be vaccinated. The former world number one is barred from the country until 2025 but can have his three-year visa ban waived by the government.
Astana Open Final LIVE: Novak Djokovic WINS 90th career ATP…
Japan Open Final LIVE: Taylor Fritz wins Japan Open title,…
Australian Open 2023: Campaign to stop Novak Djokovic entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker says ‘Serb should not allowed any relaxation’: Check OUT
Novak Djokovic AO 2023: Australia in July scrapped a rule that required international travellers to declare their COVID vaccination status, and Djokovic has said he was hoping for “positive news” on his bid to play next year’s Australian Open. Andrews said, however, that the rule change should have no bearing on Djokovic’s case.
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Australian Open 2023: Campaign to stop Novak Djokovic entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker says ‘Serb should now allow any relaxation’: Check OUT
“There would have been other people in similar circumstances that have also had their visas cancelled,” the lawmaker told ABC Radio on Monday. “So if immigration now chooses to make a special allowance for Novak Djokovic the obvious question is what are they going to do about anyone else who may be in similar circumstances?” No comment was immediately available from Djokovic.
How to Watch Australian Open 2023 : Novak Djokovic might play entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker
Australia’s Home Affairs ministry reiterated that it does not comment on individual cases.
Andrews said lifting Djokovic’s ban would be a “slap in the face for those people in Australia who did the right thing (and) got vaccinated.”
“(Why should) Novak Djokovic be allowed back into the country simply because he’s a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars?” she added.
“It shouldn’t be just one rule for (him) and a different rule for everyone else.” Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open a record nine times, was unable to travel to New York for the recent U.S. Open because he was not vaccinated but said he had no regrets about missing two of the year’s four Grand Slams.
Australian Open 2023: Campaign to stop Novak Djokovic entry in Australia starts, opposition lawmaker says ‘Serb should now allow any relaxation’: Check OUT
