Darko Vojinovic/AP
After a convoluted and shambolic visa approval course of, adopted by questions on his actions over the previous month and the knowledge offered to Australian border officers, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has cancelled Novak Djokovic’s visa.
The choice is a serious blow to Djokovic, who’s tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at 20 Grand Slam singles titles, essentially the most ever by a male participant. Whereas his legal professionals will try to problem the newest visa cancellation, Djokovic is unlikely to chase historical past at his most profitable Grand Slam match.
The choice can also be a blow to the Australian Open. With Federer out with damage, Djokovic and Nadal had been the prime draw playing cards on this yr’s males’s match. If the top-ranked Serbian participant and nine-time Australian Open champion is deported, some have feared severe repercussions for the longevity of the occasion.
Critics have gone as far as to theorise world tennis powerbrokers may look elsewhere to host the “grand slam of the Asia-Pacific”, in order
[…] to be assured the match can proceed easily with robust ranges of public and authorities assist.
In that sense, the conservative MP and former skilled tennis participant John Alexander had urged permitting Djokovic to remain within the nation, arguing:
Retaining the Australian Open as a grand slam occasion […] is in our nationwide curiosity.
Whereas the Australian Open’s repute actually has taken a success, its standing as one of many 4 Grand Slam tournaments has loads of assist. The longer-term harm is perhaps to Djokovic’s legacy.
Given the extraordinary backstory to his medical exemption from COVID vaccination to enter Australia – together with the various questions which have arisen about his COVID an infection in December – public opinion about him has swayed backwards and forwards every day.
Courtside drama
Djokovic has lengthy been a polarising determine in tennis. Regardless of his athleticism, endurance and psychological toughness, he has generally been accused of gamesmanship, “exaggerating” accidents to permit for medical pauses when an opponent has the momentum.
Like different gamers, Djokovic has additionally exhibited unruly behaviour on court docket, with occasional racket smashes, in addition to disqualification from the 2020 US Open after recklessly – albeit by chance – smashing a ball right into a line decide.
Seth Wenig/AP
In contrast with the much-loved Federer and Nadal, Djokovic has a narrower fan base. On the Australian Open, he’s at all times had the bubbling assist of Melbourne’s giant Serbian diaspora, with their patriotic singing and flag-waving. However the temper of the remainder of the gang this yr would probably have been blended, with some undoubtedly voicing their hostility.
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Secrecy surrounding Djokovic’s medical exemption means star can anticipate a hostile reception on centre court docket
Certainly, native tennis followers would have good motive to chafe at Djokovic’s medical exemption from immunisation given the stringent COVID protocols they need to observe to attend the Australian Open.
The match requires followers to be double-vaccinated or present proof of a medical exemption. Nonetheless, not like Djokovic’s peculiar defence, prior COVID standing doesn’t absolve native residents from the have to be double-vaccinated, with “earlier an infection” no foundation for an exemption.
Grand slammed?
Additional complicating Djokovic’s legacy is the query of whether or not he’ll now face visa difficulties on the different tennis majors. The fast unfold of the Omicron variant might alter the foundations for unvaccinated gamers in numerous international locations and tournaments.
As issues stand, Djokovic seems to face no vaccine-related obstacle to competing on the French Open in a couple of months. The French sports activities minister has stated Djokovic “would be capable of participate”, though not like vaccinated gamers he would want to observe “well being bubble” protocols.
French President Emmanuel Macron, nonetheless, has made headlines by declaring he needs to “piss off” the unvaccinated – partially by mandating a “well being cross” for public venues, a requirement for which is to be vaccinated. Whether or not Macron insists on adjustments for rivals at Roland-Garros stays to be seen.
So far as Wimbledon is anxious, unvaccinated worldwide arrivals to the UK are presently required to take repeat COVID exams over a number of days, plus quarantine for ten days at a residence of their selection.
Djokovic would, presumably, look to a lease a home with a garden tennis court docket hooked up.
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Novak Djokovic’s path to authorized vindication was lengthy and convoluted. It might even be fleeting
The US Open appears much less sure. The unvaccinated aren’t permitted in particular indoor venues in New York and not using a medical exemption.
So, if one in all Djokovic’s matches on the showcourts on the US Open was affected by rain and the roof wanted to be closed, it isn’t clear what organisers would do. He is perhaps pressured to forfeit the match.
Seth Wenig/AP
The Djokovic legacy
Given Djokovic has been much less susceptible to damage than Federer or Nadal and is coming off one in all his greatest years on tour, he’s nonetheless prone to retire with essentially the most males’s grand slam titles. In that case, he can rightfully be feted as the best male tennis star of all time.
However how he shall be remembered is a extra sophisticated query. In a single sense, Djokovic seems to experience being depicted because the “arch-nemesis” of Federer and Nadal – it has fuelled his need to surpass their grand slam title hauls.
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But, for all his tennis greatness, Djokovic usually attracts eye-rolling exterior the court docket – not merely in relation to his views on vaccines, however the wider pseudo-scientific ruminations that underpin his public pronouncements.
Because the Australian tennis participant Nick Kyrgios has put it, Djokovic appears “a really unusual cat”.
The drama from the previous week will affect the way in which others view him, too. It is going to inflame his supporters, infuriate his detractors, and immediate even impartial observers to take a stand in respect to his entry to Australia. Relating to Novak Djokovic, everybody will now absolutely have an opinion.
Daryl Adair doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that may profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their educational appointment.