LIVE. “It has now taken long enough”: colleagues have gradually had it with the Djokovic affair | Soap about Novak Djokovic in Australia

As unyielding as on the track, Novak Djokovic. The nine-time winner at Melbourne Park was told today that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke considered him “a threat to public health and the good order”, revoked his visa a second time and expelled him from the country. His team of lawyers was ready for the counterattack as moments later they were meeting with their government colleague in a meeting with Judge Anthony Kelly, to draft the terms of a new appeals procedure. It was decided that Djokovic would be questioned again last night, after which he would be held again (in an unspecified quarantine hotel) until the case was heard by the court on Sunday morning (in Australia). All this to get a ‘final’ decision before the start of the Australian Open.

In the meantime, it has been ten days since this soap opera started. An unvaccinated Djokovic then arrived at Tullamarine Airport with a ‘medical clearance’. His preliminary announcement on Instagram, however, had caused quite a stir down under and the government was forced to play the game hard. After eight hours of interrogation, the visa was canceled and Djokovic was deported to a poor refugee hotel. The number one appealed, Judge Kelly agreed with him because he felt that the tennis star had not been given enough time to defend herself adequately. In addition, a lot of details about the ‘medical exception’ of Djokovic came out. For example, the 20-time grand slam champion is said to have contracted a (never disclosed) corona infection on December 16 while he gave an award ceremony for children the next day without a mouth mask and the day after – knowing he was positive – did an interview with the two journalists from L. ‘Equipment. In addition, Djokovic had checked on his official documents that he had not traveled in the fortnight before arriving in Melbourne while later admitting that he had flown from Belgrade to Marbella. Mistakes according to Djokovic. It is unclear to what extent Minister Hawke has included these ‘mistakes’ in his decision-making and whether they will weigh in tomorrow. With a negative verdict, Djokovic could (in theory) be banned from Australia for three years.

The case has meanwhile completely hijacked the Australian Open. Sporting achievements have been forced into the background and there is a chance that this will continue to be the case for the next two weeks. How Djokovic, with a positive verdict tomorrow, will be received at Melbourne Park is therefore a big question mark. Can his matches take place in a serene atmosphere? And to what extent was his preparation damaged by his total of five days of ‘incarceration’? In principle, Djokovic will start his quest for a tenth Norm Brookes trophy and 21st grand slam title on Monday with a match against Miomir Kecmanovic (ATP 78). It is fortunate that this concerns a compatriot because the rest of his colleagues have gradually had it with this circus. “I’d like this to be resolved,” Andy Murray said yesterday. “That would be good for everyone. It’s gone on long enough now. And that’s not great for the tennis world, not good for the Australian Open and not good for Novak.” Judge Murray has spoken! See what tomorrow will be.

Our tennis expert Filip Dewulf has closely followed developments in Australia. How does Novak Djokovic deal with this setback in his opinion? “That is difficult to estimate,” Dewulf tells HLN LIVE. “Djokovic is a special figure, a real winner, but he is running a bit blue now. He can’t defend his title, can’t go for that tenth overall victory. And he can’t take a 21st grand slam win for the time being, which would be a record. Djokovic was still planning to make history in Australia.”

Djokovic is expected to appeal the decision, but risk being banned from Australia for three years if lost. “He will argue that he has done nothing wrong and has followed the rules – although he has also tried to bend them to his advantage. But he will do everything in his power to prove it right. It’s a super champion, who thinks differently than the common man in the street.”

The Australian Open has immediately lost its top favorite. What does this situation mean in sporting terms? “Some players will follow this with great interest. Daniil Medvedev, for example, who won the US Open last year by beating Djokovic. I think he’s going to be the big contender now. Rafael Nadal hadn’t played for five months, but did win a tournament in Melbourne last week – you can never write him off. In any case, it creates extra tension. In addition, the other players have had a quiet run-up, because the media only talked about Djokovic. They were able to prepare in peace.”