World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic has ruled the Australian Open for over a decade winning nine titles at the first grand slam of the calendar year. But, 2022 will be the first year he won’t play in the grand slam tournament since 2005.
After flying into Melbourne on Wednesday, Djokovic was stopped by Australian border control due to an error in his medical exemption. Djokovic’s chances to three-peat at this year’s grand slam have been in question for a few months now, after Australia announced that players would be required to be vaccinated to enter the country. The 20-time grand slam winner has notoriously been against the COVID-19 vaccination, although his vaccination status is still not public.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison commented on the situation with a tweet:
Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 5, 2022
On Jan. 4, Djokovic made headlines when it was announced that the Australian Open organizers gave him a medical exemption to play at the tournament. This caused an outrage in Australia, as citizens of the country have dealt with intense restrictions since the pandemic began back in early 2020.
On Wednesday, reports indicated Djokovic’s arrival to Australia might be delayed. The Australian Border Force noticed there was an error on his medical exemption application upon Djokovic’s entry to the country; Djokovic’s team didn’t specifically ask for him to be exempt from being vaccinated.
According to reports, Djokovic was questioned in the airport and will not be allowed officially into the country until the issue is sorted out. After researching more, Border Force asked Djokovic to leave the country. According to The Age, Djokovic’s lawyers plan to appeal.
Djokovic will remain in Melbourne in a hotel for immigration detainees until Monday when his full court hearing from the appeal of his visa denial will take place, according to Reuters.
With the omicron variant surging, Australia has strengthened restrictions, with very little travel allowed. Around 90 percent of the country’s 16 and over population is vaccinated, but the country is still seeing its highest COVID numbers since the pandemic began, according to BBC.
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Happy New Year! Wishing you all health, love & joy in every moment & may you feel love & respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet.
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 4, 2022
I’ve spent fantastic quality time with loved ones over break & today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022! pic.twitter.com/e688iSO2d4
Djokovic’s apparent vaccine exemption angered Australians.
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Novak Djokovic is on his way to Melbourne tonight.
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) January 5, 2022
The anti-vax world number one has been cleared to play in the Australian Open, after he was granted a medical exemption.
The decision has sparked widespread outrage. @reid_butler9 #9News pic.twitter.com/nb1C8IBSsw
"No-one is or will be receiving special treatment because of who they are or what they have achieved professionally," says Victorian minister Jaala Pulford on Novak Djokovic.
— Karen Sweeney (@karenlsweeney) January 4, 2022
False. Athletes, actors and the wealthy have received special treatment since day one of the pandemic.
Australians have been denied for two years, but this bloke - who’s taken extraordinary liberties in the face of the coronavirus - gets his exemption. Novak Djokovic is an all-time great, but he ain’t essential.
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) January 4, 2022
It will be *VERY* interesting to see how people in Melbourne, the city with the world's longest COVID-19 lockdown, will react to Novak Djokovic playing at the Australian Open.
— Nikolaus Fink (@NikolausFink) January 4, 2022
Things escalated quickly for unvaccinated Novak Djokovic today:
— Wu-Tang Is For The Children (@WUTangKids) January 5, 2022
How it started How it’s going pic.twitter.com/i5K8x23KSx
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Djokovic hasn’t suffered any injuries recently, at least none that he made public, leading to speculation to what his reasoning could be to earn the medical exemption.
Australian Open participants have already been arriving for the last week or so in order to quarantine. Vaccinations are required for players, and if they come in close contact with a positive case, they must undergo at least a seven-day quarantine.
The Australian Open begins Monday, Jan. 17 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 30.