Monday, January 10, 2022
Family breaks off PK after criticism
Djokovic is back on the tennis court for the time being
Novak Djokovic is allowed to go back to the tennis court. After having won a partial victory in front of a court in Melbourne, the Serb begins to prepare for the Australian Open. It is still unclear whether he can participate. Meanwhile, his family is celebrating the biggest win in Djokovic’s career.
Novak Djokovic is back on the tennis court. The exceptional Serbian player reported on social media a few hours after his victory in the legal tug of war with a picture showing him on the court. Meanwhile, his family made serious allegations against the Australian state. But it is still unclear whether Djokovic will actually be allowed to participate in the Australian Open.
“I am happy and grateful that the judge has withdrawn the cancellation of my visa. Regardless of what happened, I want to stay and try to take part in the Australian Open,” wrote the tennis player who has just been released from the deportation hotel. “That’s what I’m still focusing on. I flew here to play in front of the great fans at one of the most important events we have.”
But whether this will happen is still open. The Australian Secretary of Immigration, Alex Hawke, can use his “personal power to cancel” the visa. A decision could be made on Tuesday. “The minister is currently examining the matter and the process is still ongoing,” said a spokesman for the minister. Djokovic could also appeal this decision. In the first hearing, Djokovic’s lawyers were able to prove that the Australian state had made formal errors in the cancellation of the visa. The tennis player didn’t get enough time and he couldn’t consult a lawyer.
Novak Djokovic is not vaccinated. He told the Australian immigration authorities on his first unsuccessful attempt to get into the country. Due to an exemption for those recently infected with the corona virus, he had made his way to Australia. Allegedly, he tested positive on December 16, 2021.
But this test result also raises further questions: In the days that followed, he did not isolate himself, but presented himself several times without a mask at public events. Another test on December 22nd was then negative. Should Australia withdraw Djokovic’s visa again and the tennis player file an objection against it, another court hearing might also involve this test.
“We didn’t know if he ate”
Meanwhile, Djokovic’s family also appeared in public. At a press conference in Belgrade in a well-attended room, father, mother, brother and uncle sit down at a table on which some trophies, a bust of the tennis superstar and a religious picture were draped. The family was delighted with the Melbourne court ruling.
“We are here to celebrate Novak’s victory,” said his father Srdjan to the applause of the journalists present. In the end, “the judiciary won, the rule of law won”. The father and the rest of the family made grave allegations against the Australian state. Mother Dijana compared her son’s treatment to “torture” and then said: “There were moments when he didn’t even have his cell phone. We didn’t know what was happening. We didn’t know whether he was okay, whether he ate has.”
Several family members described the court ruling as the greatest victory in the world’s number one career. “Novak is free,” said his brother Djordje. “He went to Australia to play tennis and win the Australian Open and set the record he’s been chasing for so long.” Like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, the Serb has won 20 Grand Slam tournaments. He wants to become the sole record holder. The press conference was canceled by Djokovic’s brother Djordje after critical questions about the positive PCR test and the subsequent public appearances. It ended with the family hugging each other and singing a patriotic song together: “I come from Serbia and will never leave it.” The family had followed the court hearings in Belgrade together with the British right-wing winger Nigel Farage.