Australians have responded with anger and skepticism to the news that No. 1 Novak Djokovic has been granted an exemption to compete in this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne. Here’s what Rafael Nadal‘s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, wrote in his El Pais column:
I must admit that, until Tuesday’s announcement, I thought that the Serbian player would give up participating in the tournament or that he would get the vaccine.
The way I understand it, if you have requested and received an exemption then it’s because you must not have been administered any of the authorised [vaccines].
There are almost six million people who have lost their lives due to this damn virus and many other millions who have received the vaccine.
I want to think that Novak is no stranger to all this and that he will clear up the doubts as a sign of human sensitivity and understanding.
Source: Marca
This whole thing with Djokovic is the same as hitting the lineswoman at the U.S. Open and then trying to argue his way out of the disqualification times a factor of about 10,000. Djokovic takes a bad situation and turns it into something much worse. He is selfish beyond belief. He wonders why he is not loved like Fed and Rafa.
Djokovic visa has been cancelled
What a fiasco! What a mess! So much for a “robust” review system in terms of the process of determining medical exemptions. This whole thing has blown up in Djokovic’s face and by appealing, he will only garner more resentment from many who think he shouldn’t be allowed into Australia unvaccinated.
This has become a political hot potato which is set to run and run. Not good for Australian tennis and for tennis in general. Djokovic needs to do the decent thing and give some clarification.
Breaking: Novak Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. He’s been told to leave the country today, two sources confirmed to @theage. His Lawyers are in the process of appealing. He’s not demonstrated to Border Force sufficient evidence for his exemption.
He has insufficient evidence for his exemption, because he should never have received one. I think he loves creating controversy – if he wants to compete, he should get vaccinated as this won’t be the last time he has a problem this year. For now, he should just accept the decision and go home. His appearance would have cast a dark shadow on the Australian Open. I’m glad he won’t be competing I don’t it’s fair to the other players or to everyone else in Australia!
Well said Toni Nadal. Over to you Djokovic.
Stand up against tyranny, No mandates. This is not a vaccine. The information on the vaccine bottle is blank. Protection and prevention. Rafal is my favorite player.
Last I heard, ND is still at the airport as authorities scramble to decide whether to let him enter the country or not…. Hopefully they will turn him around and point him back to Serbia or Monaco…. where ever…
Djoka…. Always in the middle of controversy and I’m sure with his “poor me” attitude to boot…. It’s always something with him….
Apparently ESPN is saying that Djokovic exemption is based on the fact that he had covid in the last 6 months, but that not fly as he had covid in June 2021 and it is now more than 6 months. Also if his team has applied for wrong VISA to enter, he should be sent home, the same way any other person would be if they had the wrong VISA.
The Djoker has complained that he never enjoyed the popularity of Federer or Nadal, even though they are in a 3 way tie winning Majors. Does he think that this very Public display of his arrogance will help?
I am appalled at this, he doesn’t even have the courage to state either direction of his status. I encourage the public to voice their feelings and spectators to buhh him out of the stadium.
Then he can go again and cry wolf over unfair treatment. I will also place a curse on him and count on Karma to set it back into balance.
May he lose his first or second match and be sent home. That would make my day,
Anyone in agreement, please re-post and let it go viral
It not right for you to wish bad on anyone . Have a great day and good luck to Novi’Djokovic..
He did not wish bad on Djokovic he simply stated whats obvious to everyone.
“..human sensitivity and understanding.” Surely you jest! ND is on a desperate mission. There is such a thing as karma………
AUSTRALIA MUST REFUSE THIS ARROGANT DJOKER PLAYING GAMES WITH HIS DIRTY ANTICS AND AUSTRALIAN TENNIS IS JUST AS BAD FOR MAKING RULES AND THEN COMPROMISING …Just because his No one
…what about the price VICTORIA PAID ..THE GOV MUST STEP IN AND NOT ALLOW THIS ARROGANT DEJOKER INTO AUSTRALIA WHEN OTHERS OBEYED THE RULES
AND WE HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO GET THIS PRIVILEGE FOR FUNRALS AND DEATHS INOUR FAMILIES.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.STOP THE DOUBLE STANDARD
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA.
That’s why people don’t like Novak, he is arrogant and he believes because he is number one rules should not apply to him , this is why he will never be respected like Nadal& Federer,they will beGOAT even though Novak may pass them in numbers of wins , he will never get the respect that they have never.
Novak never thinks he is above any law nor thought that rules doesn’t apply to him. He applied for exemption and his reason was valid and got the approval. Actually, it is people like you who shouldn’t be respected for being narrow-minded.
Wake up and face the facts. Over 91% of the Australian population over 16 years of age are double vaccinated. What does tell you? They don’t want unvaccinated people in their country. Djokovic thinks he’s the exception to the rule and feels a sense of entitlement.
Djokovic was, is, and always will be a joke. Good tennis player but as a person just a joke!
I am wondering what would have happened if any player out of Top 100 asks the same. It is completely not done to let Djokovic compete with the huge possibilty that he can (again) contaminate many of his collegues, volunteers, peopole of the organisation. Never thought Nole was such an selfish idiot.
Why would he contaminate many of his collogues, volunteers, people of the organization. Is he covid19 positive? You are the idiot here.
Drama continues. The Victorian government rejected a late-night request from Border Force to support the world No. 1’s visa hours before he landed in Melbourne after it was discovered that Djokovic’s team had submitted the wrong type of visa.
Aussie P.M. Morrison is saying exactly that. ND will be sent back if he can’t prove his exemption is warranted but that sounds like political posturing to calm the outrage by his citizens. Not holding my breath that there will be any follow through.
Rod Laver is also being critical of the decision. I will be interested to hear how Rafa responds to questions he will surely be asked today after his match. I know he will be diplomatic as usual but I hope the press will keep their focus on him as they should.
The medical panel has admitted that no verification was attempted on any foreign documents submitted. They were accepted at face value.
What an appalling mess.
Which means that Djokovic paid some doctor a ton of money to say that he has allergies and asthma so he shouldn’t get vaccinated and the medical panel did no verification – ha! So much for the vigorous process. BTW tons of people with allergies and asthma have had the vaccine without any difficulties, so if that’s his excuse it’s completely bogus.
Human Rights? Do we still have any? The decision should be ours to make. Could be some truth to the allegations of side effects, etc. Some people have suffered serious side effect from the vacine.
Yeah but cases of serious side effects have been very rare especially when you consider the hundreds of millions of people who have already received vaccines. And those tended to happen to “vulnerable people” (seniors, people with serious underlying conditions etc) and there’s no way that Djokovic fits that profile. I call bullshit on this medical exemption for him!
There’s no way that Djokovic has a legitimate reason to be exempted – I just don’t believe it. And his past comments (not to mention his wife’s) about how covid isn’t real and vaccines are dangerous etc. make it doubtful that this has anything to do with medical conditions etc. he just doesn’t want the rules to apply to him. I hope he gets knocked out early and I doubt he will get a warm welcome from any of the Australian Open audiences!
“The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia.
We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
We’ve always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.” – Jaala Pulford MP
I’m not surprised by Novak’s request for exemption! His arrogance, ignorance and lack of concern for others reflects what many tennis fans have come to know about this self centered fool.
NOVAC shouldnt be excempt because he’s Novac and thinks because of his fame that he can bend the rules.
Its not medical but he fears the vaccination will affect his playing,if it did it wouldnt be forever.
Covid will effect his playing ,possibly kill him,that would be forever.
He should think of the vunerable people around him that he may give Covid too if hes a carrier.
Novac is fit enough to play world class tennis ,hes fit enough to have the vaccine ,I’m in the at risk group and had 3 vacinations ,I feel fine and grateful we have the wonderful NHS in the UK who are working so hard to protect us all from this filthy disease.
They should put Novac on the return flight home and make an example of him ,not an exception !
I absolutely agree…Novak should not be allowed to play in any tournament.I was so happy that Australia has made this rule that vaccinated players only can play so that rule should apply for Mr Djokovic. He better take the vaccine or he should not play in any tournaments.