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Novak Djokovic: Australian tennis avoids visa application


MELBOURNE, Australia –

Novak Djokovic will not receive official lobbying support from Tennis Australia if he manages to enter the country for the first major tournament of 2023, a year after he was expelled. for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion was not allowed to defend his Australian Open title last January after a tumultuous 10-day legal saga that culminated in his visa being revoked. The eve of the tournament was finally won by Rafael Nadal.

Initially, Djokovic was granted an exemption from the strict immunization regulations by the two medical directors and Tennis Australia to compete at the Australian Open, but after arriving in Melbourne and believing he had all the procedures documents, that waiver was denied by the Australian Border Force.

“It’s not an issue we can lobby. It’s an issue that’s definitely between the two of them,” Australian Open director Craig Tiley said Wednesday during the 2023 event’s premiere, referring to Djokovic and the Australian government.

“And then, depending on the result,” added Tiley, “we will welcome him to the Australian Open.”

The deportation subject Djokovic to a three-year exclusion period that could prevent further issuance of a temporary visa, although the Australian Border Force in January said any exclusion period “would be considered a part of any new visa application and may be waived under certain circumstances.

The ABF says each enclosure is rated on its merits.

Australia has changed its border regulations and as of July 6, incoming travelers no longer have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Tiley has been heavily criticized for his role in the confusion that led to the top-ranked player in men’s tennis landing in Australia believing he was exempt from strict laws for visitors. unvaccinated, then questioned for hours by border officials at Melbourne Airport before being detained. in immigration detention.

The main source of confusion has been the state government and Tennis Australia’s exemptions for Djokovic and several others from the tournament – despite regulations requiring all fans, officials and players to be vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccine – this is ultimately still needed to be assessed by border security officials.

Djokovic was allowed to train at Melbourne Park after some initial success in court, but Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke ended up using discretionary powers to cancel Djokovic’s visa on personal grounds. , claiming he is “the talisman of the anti-vaccination community.”

Recent winner of tournaments in Israel and Kazakhstan, Djokovic can apply to the new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to have his visa status reviewed.

Tiley, who is also Tennis Australia chief executive, said he met Djokovic in London last month for the Laver Cup and believes the Serbian star is not bitter about the story.

But Tiley stressed that the pair were just speaking in general about Djokovic’s visa situation.

“He said he obviously wanted to go back to Australia but he knew it would be the final decision of the Federal Government and he accepted that,” Tiley said. “If you notice, he is playing a lot of tennis at the end of the year expecting and hoping for a successful result with his application. But that is up to him.”

A review of the episode that made global headlines has resulted in the players and their acquaintances applying for Tennis Australia outsourced visas to a company specializing in immigration matters.

Tiley said the Australian Open has no plans to follow in the footsteps of Wimbledon, which banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing this year because of the invasion of Ukraine.

But there will be no reference to the nationalities of those players, which include 2022 Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev of Russia and two-time women’s singles champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, according to tournament rules.

Tiley declined to discuss plans to revamp Australia’s fixture list, which is expected to include a new 16-country mixed tournament held around the country ahead of the Australian Open.

Such a competition would have similarities to the longstanding Hopman Cup, held in Perth for three decades before the ATP Cup was introduced in 2020.

Tiley, who has promised to bring elite tennis back to Perth for the first time since the pandemic hit Western Australia last week, said a summer program would soon be outlined.

“We hope our major cities have a big event, a different, one-of-a-kind event,” he said. “We’ll make that announcement when we’re ready to make that announcement.

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