The world number of tennis is under a request for deportation, lack of evidence of a possible vaccination against CIVID-19. He filed an appeal in order to participate in the Australian Open in Melbourne, from January 17th.
Le Monde with AFP
This is his first reaction since the beginning of the case. Novak Djokovic thanked his supports “around the world”, Friday, January 7, Orthodox Christmas Day. It is always in the Melbourne Retention Center where it was placed after the cancellation of its visa due to the blur surrounding its vaccine situation. A story that arouses strong controversy in Australia, as in Serbia.
Djokovic had landed in Melbourne, Wednesday, hoping to defend his title at the Australian Open (January 17-30) and win a 21st record in Grand Slam.
“Thank you to my family, my loved ones, Serbia, and all good people around the world who send me their support. Thank you to God for health,” he wrote on Instagram in a message in Serbian, a first reaction since its Arrival in Australia.
Believing, he also wished a merry Christmas to the Orthodox while fifty people were gathered under the windows of the retention center where he would be, even if his presence was not officially confirmed. “We have come to support it because it’s our Christmas and that it goes through a difficult period,” said Sash Aleksic, in the crowd mixing militants defending the rights of migrants, antivax and player fans.
The Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denounced a “political hunt” and the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who celebrates Orthodox Christmas Friday, assured Djokovic in a message that millions of faithful prayed for him through the world.
New audience Monday
The Serb has been placed in retention after the annulment of his entry visa in Australia, on Wednesday night to Thursday, because he did not fulfill the strict conditions of entry into the territory imposed in the context of The fight against CIVID-19. Most foreigners are not allowed to visit Australia, and those that may need to be fully vaccinated. Only Australian nationals can benefit from a medical derogation such as the world’s number one departing for Melbourne.
According to the Australian government, the 34-year-old papers, which had opposed mandatory vaccination and whose vaccinal status is unknown, did not meet the requirements. Placed in retention pending his expulsion, he filed an appeal. It will not be expelled before Monday, dates from a new hearing before a Melbourne J.. The Minister of the Interior, Karen Andrews, denied the allegations that the champion was retained against his will: “He is free to leave when he wishes and the border guards will facilitate his departure.”
Two other people who came to participate in the Australian Open are the subject of an investigation, also confirmed the minister. Another tennis player, the Czech Renata Voracova, is in the same retention center that Novak Djokovic after she also saw her Australian visa canceled, she said in an interview with the Czech Dnes and Sport daily.
Other tournaments in question
Australian imbroglio is already asking questions about the world’s number season. If it does not vaccinate, it may have to give up other competitions, particularly in the United States, where the vaccine is also mandatory to pass the border.
Grand SHELEM side, the next tournament is Roland-Garros in the spring. But the French Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, assured Friday that “health protocols imposed for major events by the federations” allow “to someone like Novak Djokovic to enter the territory” of France.