The Australian Open starts on January 17th. A vaccination is mandatory for tennis professionals to participate. However, that doesn’t seem to apply to superstar Novak Djokovic. This causes great outrage.
The announcement by tennis world number one Novak Djokovic that he would compete in the Australian Open with the aid of a special permit was received with anger and outrage in Australia. In the media and on social networks, many people have already vented their anger about the decision in favor of the 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner – who is now apparently allowed into the country without the actually required vaccination against the corona virus.
Australia’s press fired heavily against the decision. As the newspaper “TheCanberra Times” writes: “Raise your hand if you were really surprised when Novak Djokovic received a medical exemption for the Australian Open. Horrified maybe. Angry, yes. Frustrated, disappointed, disgusted, the feeling as if we all just got a massive slap in the face. “
“Shamelessly assigned the role of villain”
And “TheWestAustralian” says: “The Djoker has turned into the Joker and shamelessly assigned himself the role of villain before he starts his attempt to rule the tennis world.”
One who also sees the decision as critical is the German Davis Cup team boss Michael Kohlmann. He reacted with astonishment to the exemption for Novak Djokovic. “I was also absolutely surprised,” Kohlmann told the German press agency on Wednesday. “There are still many question marks. Hopefully they will be answered in the next few days and weeks before the start.” The apparently unvaccinated tennis world number one Djokovic had announced the day before that, thanks to a medical exemption, he would travel to Australia and compete in the Australian Open from January 17th to 30th in Melbourne (Read more about this here).
“Wait and see what the reason is”
The 34-year-old Serb had always left his vaccination status open. Only players who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or who have received a medical exemption are allowed to take part in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
“Now you have to wait and see what the reason is or whether there are other players who have received this exemption,” said Kohlmann, who is fighting with the German tennis men at the ATP Cup in Sydney on Thursday for a place in the semifinals . Djokovic canceled the team competition in Australia.
Australians react angrily
He hoped “that maybe a little light will come in,” said Kohlmann. “It would be interesting for all players and everyone who works in tennis to hear how it came about.” It is normal for Djokovic to try to get this exemption. “But the background would of course be interesting,” said the 47-year-old from Hagen and added: “We are already talking about how the Australian audience will greet him.”
Initial reactions from Australia were marked by anger and indignation. Many people expressed their anger in the media and social networks. One user called Djokovic’s participation a “slap in the face for all Australians”. The broadcaster ABC spoke of “anger and confusion”.
Djokovic informed his fans about his participation on Instagram on Tuesday and wrote happily: “I spent a fantastic time with my loved ones during the break and today I’m going to Down Under with a special permit. Let’s go in 2022!”
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