Novak Djokovic’s expulsion caused angry reactions in his home country. But elsewhere, too, it has drawn harsh criticism for the actions of the Australian authorities.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic demonstratively stands behind Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic’s battle with the Australian judiciary is over, but the controversy over the Serbian tennis star’s behavior is far from over. In a statement, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed the Melbourne federal court’s decision to reject Djokovic’s visa application, saying it was in the public interest and was made on health and safety grounds. “I thank the court for the attention it has given to these points and for the patience of all those involved. It is now time to move on to the Australian Open and enjoy tennis over the summer.”
Others are less enthusiastic. For example, the Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, who had sided with his rival Djokovic early on in the vaccination affair. On Twitter, Kyrgios showed his displeasure without words:
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— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 16, 2022
But other players also support Djokovic. The Canadian Vasek Pospisil writes: «Novak would never have gone to Australia if he hadn’t received an exceptional entry permit from the government. He would have skipped the Australian Open, stayed at home with his family – and nobody would talk about this whole mess now.” Pospisil criticizes that there was a political agenda at play in view of the upcoming elections in Australia. “It’s not Novak’s fault.”
The Ukrainian Serhiy Stakhovskyj writes of a “very sad day in the history of tennis”. It is sad when politics triumphs over common sense. “It’s a shame to target someone for their views that differ from those of others.”
Vucic speaks of lies
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday morning he had spoken to Djokovic on the phone and told him he could not wait for the player to return to his country, where he was always welcome. “You abused the best tennis player for eleven days and then told him a decision that you could have made on the first day,” Vucic criticized the Australian authorities.
In the “pointless” trial against Djokovic, you saw how much the prosecution lied. ‘You’re just lying. You say that in Serbia the vaccination rate is below 50 percent. It is 58 percent. Don’t forget that this is more than in many EU countries. It was one of those pointless arguments, but apparently it’s possible in this Orwellian performance.”
“The Greatest Shame”
The media in Djokovic’s home country are also becoming emotional. The court has decided: deportation for Novak! The greatest shame in the history of sport happened in Melbourne! Shame on you Australia! (…) The law has lost, politics has won », states «Kurir.rs». “Alo.rs” also writes of a “shame like you’ve never seen it before!”
British journalist Dawn Neesom tweeted: “The Australian government has said that if you let Djokovic play he would become an anti-vaccination hero. But by deporting him and possibly imposing a three-year ban on entry, they are making him a martyr. What a mess!” Australian journalist Monica Attard was also very critical: “What an appalling state of affairs that the government can have sweeping, godlike power and use it to evict someone whose views they don’t share.”
British tennis commentator David Law sees it more soberly: “It could have been so easy. 1. Get vaccinated Novak, like 97 of the other top 100 players. 2. Have a clear rule that says you’re vaccinated or you don’t gamble (unless your reason for not getting vaccinated is so compelling that no one for comfort can doubt it).”
It could have been so simple.
1) Get vaccinated, Novak, like 97 of the other Top 100.
2) Have a rule that says you get vaccinated or you don’t play (unless your reason is so acute, and so beyond doubt that nobody sensitive can dispute it).
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) January 16, 2022