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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 13, 2021 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after profitable his third spherical match in opposition to Taylor Fritz of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
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By Courtney Walsh and John Mair
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World primary tennis participant Novak Djokovic was denied entry into Australia on Thursday after initially being granted a medical exemption from the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination necessities so he might play within the Australian Open.
The tennis star, who was left stranded at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport in a single day amid a brewing political maelstrom, was issued a letter by the Australian authorities saying his visa had been denied and he can be faraway from the nation on Thursday, a supply near the match instructed Reuters.
Australia’s border drive later confirmed his visa had been revoked.
The Serbian participant, in search of a record-breaking twenty first Grand Slam win on the Open beginning Jan. 17, would file an injunction to stop him being despatched again, the supply mentioned. Within the meantime, Djokovic was on his method to a Melbourne resort.
In a dramatic collection of occasions by means of the Melbourne night time, Djokovic touched down at Tullamarine airport Wednesday about 11:30 p.m. native time after a 14-hour flight from Dubai, however was ushered into an isolation room underneath police guard when Australian officers mentioned his visa didn’t permit for medical exemptions.
The supply instructed Reuters that the visa and paperwork that Djokovic had used to achieve entry into the nation was the identical as three different gamers who had already arrived.
The transfer by the Australian authorities threatened to trigger a diplomatic incident between Canberra and Belgrade.
“I’ve simply completed my phone dialog with Novak Djokovic,” Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic posted on Instagram.
“I instructed our Novak that the entire of Serbia is with him and that our our bodies are doing the whole lot to see that the harassment of the world’s greatest tennis participant is delivered to an finish instantly.
“According to all norms of worldwide legislation, Serbia will struggle for Novak, reality and justice. Novak is robust, as everyone knows.”
Vucic had summoned the Australian ambassador in Belgrade and demanded that they instantly launch Djokovic to play, Serbian media reported.
COURT CHALLENGE
“Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled,” Morrison tweeted on Thursday. “Guidelines are guidelines, particularly relating to our borders. Nobody is above these guidelines. Our sturdy border insurance policies have been important to Australia having one of many lowest loss of life charges on this planet from COVID, we’re persevering with to be vigilant.”
There was monumental backlash over the choice to grant Djokovic a medical exemption from vaccination to play on the Open, resulting in fingerpointing between the Prime Minister’s conservative administration and the left-leaning Victorian authorities led by premier Dan Andrews.
Melbourne has endured the world’s longest cumulative lockdown and an outbreak of the Omicron variant has despatched case numbers to report ranges.
With simply 11 days to go till the Open begins, a authorized problem by Djokovic, who has beforehand declined to disclose his vaccine standing, might see the authorized struggle go all the way in which to the excessive court docket.
On the coronary heart of Djokovic’s case is that the 408 non permanent exercise visa that he sought to enter Australia on treats an individual arriving with a legitimate medical exemption equally to at least one who’s vaccinated, the supply instructed Reuters.
Tennis Australia and authorities officers have beforehand careworn that Djokovic acquired no preferential remedy to achieve the medical exemption from a panel of well being officers.
TA chief govt Craig Tiley mentioned the panel consisted of medical doctors from the fields of immunology, infectious illness and common follow and all exemptions met situations set out by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
The Australian authorities had beforehand pledged to honour the foundations of the exemption course of. Nonetheless, when Djokovic arrived on an Emirates flight on Wednesday, he was detained by border officers. Australian media reported that the Border Pressure claimed he had utilized for the unsuitable visa for a medical exemption.
ANGRY AUSSIES
The Serbian has gained 9 titles at Melbourne Park together with the final three, however his anti-vaccination stance means he faces a tricky crowd to take his tenth in a state with a 93% vaccination price for 12 12 months olds and over.
Australian tennis nice Rod Laver, after whom the principle showcourt at Melbourne Park is known as, warned that Djokovic would possibly face hostility from locals.
“I believe it would get ugly,” Laver instructed Information Corp (NASDAQ:). “I might assume the Victorian folks can be considering ‘Sure I might like to see him play and compete, however on the identical time there is a proper method and a unsuitable method.’
“Sure, you are an amazing participant and you have carried out and gained so many tournaments, so it may well’t be bodily. So what’s the downside?”
Melbourne native Christine Wharton mentioned it was a “shame”.
“We have all finished the best factor, we have all gone out and received our jabs and our boosters, and we’ve somebody that is come from abroad and unexpectedly he is been exempt and may play, and I believe it is an absolute shame and I will not be watching it.”
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