Despite being granted a medical exemption to defend his Australian Open men's singles title, World No.1 Novak Djokovic's visa has been revoked upon his arrival in Melbourne on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic came within one victory of sweeping all four of last year바카라s Grand Slam tennis tournaments and entered 2022 needing one title to set the men바카라s record of 21 major championships. He might not get the chance to pursue that mark at the Australian Open 2022 when play begins in Melbourne on January 17. (More Tennis News)
That바카라s because, even though Djokovic, a 34-year-old from Serbia, was granted a medical exemption to get around a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all players and their support teams at the hard-court tournament, his visa for entry into Australia was revoked in the early hours of Thursday, local time, after he was detained at the airport for about eight hours.
Here바카라s a look at some of the issues surrounding Djokovic바카라s attempt to play in the Australian Open:
Reason For Novak Djokovic's Exemption
The state government for Victoria, where Melbourne Park is located, mandated full vaccinations for all players, staff and fans at the Australian Open unless there is a genuine medical reason. Victoria state Deputy Premier James Merlino said medical exemptions would not be 바카라a loophole for privileged tennis players바카라 and would only be possible in 바카라exceptional circumstances if you have an acute medical condition.바카라
Tennis Australia said Djokovic바카라s request for an exemption 바카라was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts.바카라 Neither Tennis Australia nor Djokovic revealed the reason he sought an exemption. Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said a total of 26 players or support staff applied for exemptions and a 바카라handful바카라 were granted.
Among the acceptable grounds were acute major medical conditions, serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the previous six months.
Why was Djokovic Prevented From Entering Australia?
When he landed at the airport, the Australian Border Force canceled Djokovic바카라s visa, saying he 바카라failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements.바카라 Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted, 바카라No one is above these rules,바카라 and later said at a news conference that Djokovic바카라s exemption wasn바카라t valid but did not explain the details.
Reaction In Australia And Serbia
The news that Djokovic was on his way to Australia with an exemption 바카라 announced first by him via social media, then by Tennis Australia via press release 바카라 was not exactly greeted warmly in Melbourne, where most people endured months of strict lockdowns and harsh travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic.
More than 90% of Victoria state residents aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated. The about-face on Djokovic바카라s status upon his arrival was, not surprisingly, objected to by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who called it 바카라harassment.바카라
Is Novak Djokovic Vaccinated? Has he had COVID-19?
While Djokovic has steadfastly refused to explicitly say whether or not he received any shots to protect against the coronavirus, he would not have needed an exemption to enter Australia if he were fully vaccinated.
In April 2020, he issued a statement saying: 바카라Personally I am opposed to the vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, I will have to make a decision whether to do it, or not.바카라
Two months later, he and his wife tested positive for the illness caused by the coronavirus after a series of exhibition matches he organized with no social distancing or masking.
Why is Djoko Important For AO2022?
Djokovic is on the precipice of history, one Grand Slam trophy away from finally overtaking rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most in the history of men바카라s tennis. Entering the 2011 season, Federer owned 16 major titles, Nadal nine and Djokovic one. Now each has 20. Djokovic, who last year eclipsed Federer바카라s mark for the most career weeks at No. 1 in the men바카라s rankings, already owns nine Australian Open championships, the men바카라s record.
Must Tennis Stars Be Vaccinated To Play In All Tournaments?
No. In tennis, such mandates come from national, state or local governments, and this is the first time it바카라s come into play at a tournament. At the last Grand Slam event, for example, the U.S. Open in New York in August and September, players and their team members did not need to be vaccinated (but, after prompting from the mayor바카라s office, the U.S. Tennis Association did require that spectators show they had at least one shot).
Are Most Tennis Stars Vaccinated?
At least two others, Tennys Sandgren and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, are sitting out the Australian Open because they are not vaccinated. A spokeswoman for the women바카라s professional tennis tour said Wednesday that 85% of the WTA바카라s top 100 players are fully vaccinated; a spokesman for the men바카라s professional tour tweeted late last month that the ATP바카라s top 100 vaccination figure was 95%.
So Is The Whole Episode Over?
Doubtful. Djokovic is launching legal action in Australia바카라s Federal Circuit Court against the cancellation of his visa. If he were forced to leave now, he would have time to return before the Australian Open starts if his attempt to get into Australia 바카라 and the Australian Open 바카라 eventually proved successful.