Melbourne (AP) – Even one day after the court decision in his favor, tennis professional Novak Djokovic still has no certainty about his participation in the Australian Open.
Before a decision by the government around the responsible immigration minister Alex Hawke, who can still revoke the 34-year-old Serb’s visa, details from an immigration form could also cause additional difficulties. As the Australian media reported on Tuesday, a statement in the document does not correspond to the truth – Contrary to the information, Djokovic had been traveling in the 14 days before the flight to Australia.
Photos and videos published in social networks show that the athlete, who lives in Monaco, was training both in his home country of Serbia and in Spain during the period in question before he traveled down under. To what extent this has an impact on the decision of Immigration Minister Hawke or is relevant in this context was initially unclear. Incorrect information on the form is called a serious offense.
Djokovic was refused entry into the country last week because he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus and the documentation of his medical exemption was insufficient for the authorities. That is why he was staying in a deportation hotel in Melbourne at the weekend. Because the border officials had not given him the agreed time to clarify, the decision was overturned during a court hearing on Monday.
The men’s professional tennis organization ATP has now criticized the ambiguities in the entry regulations to Australia. One respects the victims of the Australian population during the corona pandemic and the country’s strict rules, according to a statement published on Tuesday (local time). However, complications in recent days in connection with the entry of players to Australia have shown the need for more clarity and clearer communication and application of the rules.
The events that led to the trial of Novak Djokovic’s objection to his visa revoked were detrimental to everyone involved and in particular to the well-being of the world number one and his preparation for the Australian Open. In principle, the ATP advocates vaccination against the corona virus and encourages all players to do so.
The Australian Open will be held from January 17th to 30th. Djokovic has won the tournament nine times – more often than anyone else.
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