Novak Djokovic back in Australia after tennis star’s high-profile visa ban

Health & Fitness Journal —

Novak Djokovic is back in Australia almost a year after his high-profile visa ban from the country over his stance on the Covid-19 vaccination, according to a Tennis Australia spokesman.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion is set to open his 2023 tennis season in Adelaide next week for the Adelaide International 1. It comes more than a month after Australian officials said Djokovic’s three-year ban on entering the country would be lifted.

The Serb was deported from Australia in January after former Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke found the tennis star posed a risk to public health and order because he was a prominent sportsman who had previously opposed people being forced to play tennis Receiving Covid-19 vaccine could be seen as an ‘icon’ for anti-vaccination.

The minister’s decision to deport the former world number one meant he was initially refused re-entry for three years.

On Monday, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said: “We will welcome him back to Australia.”

Regarding the reception Djokovic should expect from the Australians, Tiley said: “I have a lot of faith in the Australian public. I think we have a very well educated sports audience, especially those who come to tennis. They love their tennis. They love seeing greatness. They love to watch great athletics and great games.

“I’m very confident that the fans will react in the way we hope they would react and have respect for that,” he added.

Health & Fitness Journal has reached out to the tennis star for comment.

Djokovic has won nine men’s singles titles at the Australian Open, more than anyone in history. He is signed up to play in the 2023 edition next month.

Djokovic’s high-profile visa saga overshadowed the Australian Open earlier this year, pitting one of tennis’ biggest stars against the Australian government and dividing opinions in the country, which had enacted tough pandemic border restrictions.

The government revoked the visa for the Serb shortly after his arrival in Melbourne on January 5 because he had not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Djokovic said he felt he could enter the country because two independent bodies linked to Tennis Australia and the Victoria state government had given him an exemption because he was infected with the virus a few weeks before he arrived had been infected.

However, the federal government argued that this was not a valid reason for an exception under its rules.

A judge later ruled that border officials had been “unreasonable” in canceling Djokovic’s visa and ordering his release from an immigration detention center.

But his visa was then revoked a second time and after losing his bid to challenge the decision, the tennis star left Australia.

Despite his return to select tournaments after the ordeal, the player’s vaccination record against Covid-19 limited his participation in others.

In July, Djokovic won his 21st Grand Slam title, beating Nick Kyrgios in the final at Wimbledon.