Tag: Novak Djokovic

  • Australian judge offers Djokovic ray of hope in deportation fight

    Australian judge offers Djokovic ray of hope in deportation fight

    An Australian judge demanded to know what more Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic could have done to meet the country’s strict pandemic entry requirements, offerring a ray of hope to the detained tennis ace as he fights deportation.

    The 34-year-old world number one arrived in Melbourne last week ahead of Australian Open, hoping to win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

    But guards at the Melbourbne’s Tullamarine Airport decided the unvaccinated star had failed to present a solid medical reason for not being vaccinated.

    Djokovic’s visa was revoked and he was moved to an immigration detention facility pending deportation.

    In an emergency online court hearing Monday, Federal Judge Anthony Kelly listened to extended legal wrangling about the process, before jumping to the 34-year-old’s defence.

    Declaring himself “somewhat agitated”, Kelly said Djokovic had provided evidence from “a professor and an eminently qualified physician” about a medical exemption.

    “What more could this man have done?” the judge demanded.

    The proceedings were being watched live and anti-vaccine activists shared a link to the livestream, defying a court order by broadcasting the proceedings live on YouTube.

    Eventually, the judge pressed ahead without a public livestream, and Djokovic’s team of top lawyers made his case.

    The Australian Open gets under way in just seven days, and the nine-time defending champion’s participation now entirely depends on whether Judge Kelly believes the government acted improperly in revoking his visa.

    Most foreigners are still banned from travel to Australia, and those granted entry must be fully vaccinated or have an exemption like “acute” illness.

    Meanwhile, much of Australia is tightening restrictions to battle an Omicron-fuelled wave of infections.

    As per reports, the country is now approaching 100,000 cases a day, having been virus-free for much of the pandemic.

  • ‘Rules are rules’, Australia cancels Novak Djokovic’s visa, #BoycottAustralianOpen trends

    ‘Rules are rules’, Australia cancels Novak Djokovic’s visa, #BoycottAustralianOpen trends

    Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has had his visa to enter Australia dramatically revoked on his arrival in Melbourne.

    The world number one was held on the city’s airport for several hours before border officials announced he had not met entry rules and would be deported.

    Djokovic was then taken to a government detention hotel. His lawyers have launched an urgent appeal in court.

    The decision follows a massive backlash over a vaccine exemption Djokovic said he got to play in the Australian Open.

    The Serbian player has not spoken about his vaccination status, but last year said he was “opposed to vaccination”.

    As per reports, Tennis Australia said his medical exemption had been granted by two independent medical panels, but border officials said he had “failed to provide appropriate evidence” for entry after arriving on Wednesday from Dubai.

    “Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia,” the Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a statement.

    The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has reported that two other people were now having their medical exemptions reviewed.

    Meanwhile, The Federal Circuit Court adjourned Djokovic’s legal challenge after two brief administrative hearings.

    “Rules are rules,” the Australian PM said, about Novak Djokovic being deported.

    Djokovic is now at a hotel in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton which is used for immigration detention. The facility has been the site of Covid-19 outbreaks and a recent fire.

    Outside the hotel, supporters of Djokovic were angry at his treatment. His fans took to Twitter and expressed their anguish over the decison.

    One of the user said: “Australia denied entry to Djokovic, the defending champion, even though he provided medical exemption as they requested.

    “Other players have to decide whether to participate or boycott the tournament. A choice between eternal shame or honor,” he added.

    https://twitter.com/DrEliDavid/status/1478855930485878785?s=20

    While several people Tweeted on a trend #BoycottAustralianOpen.

    https://twitter.com/zmajdragacevac/status/1478884906650546178?s=20

    The 34-year-old Serb was Australian Open champion in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. His hopes of another title in 2022 were derailed after his visa was cancelled.

  • Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic gets green signal to play Australian Open

    Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic gets green signal to play Australian Open

    Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic received a medical exemption on Wednesday which will allow him to attend the upcoming Australian Open despite being unvaccinated against Covid-19. ⁣
    ⁣
    Many people on social media found the exemption unfair. Cities like Melbourne, which hosts the tournament, were under the world’s longest lockdown in 2020, with many Australians unable to visit their families. But organisers of the tournament say the decision has come after a ‘rigorous review process’ conducted by a panel of medical experts.

    Taking to Twitter, Djokovic wrote: ” Happy New Year! Wishing you all health, love & joy in every moment & may you feel love & respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet.”

    “I’ve spent fantastic quality time with loved ones over break & today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022,” he added.

    Djokovic has already won nine Australian Open titles and will be bidding for his 21st Grand Slam.

    The tournament is set to begin from January 17.

    Earlier, Australia’s Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers had been left in limbo after the tournament was suspended in response to India’s Covid-19 crisis.

    More than 30 people abandoned in India were unable to fly home after the Australian government had imposed a travel ban and threatened citizens who attempt to return with a hefty fine or even jail. The players were later allowed to land in Sydney after two weeks of the league’s suspension.

    Players, coaches and commentators caught a charter flight from the Maldives that touched down at Sydney Airport.

  • Russia’s Medvedev wins maiden Grand Slam, beats Djokovic in US Open final

    Russia’s Medvedev wins maiden Grand Slam, beats Djokovic in US Open final

    Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev has won his maiden Grand Slam, beating Djokovic with straight three sets (6-4 6-4 6-4) at the US Open final.

    Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 21st major title that would have completed the calendar-year Grand Slam collapsed at the final hurdle as Medvedev, playing in his third major final, at last hoisted a Grand Slam trophy while avenging a straight sets defeat by Djokovic earlier this year in the Australian Open final.

    The Serb was trying to become the first man in over a half-century to win all four majors (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) in the same year.

    Such was Medvedev’s domination that the only tiny bit of drama came late when the Serb was suddenly hit by a bout of nerves.

    The New York crowd had never really embraced Djokovic the way it wrapped its arms around Swiss Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who have also won 20 Grand Slam titles.

    It had also shown no real love for Medvedev. But no amount of urging could lift Djokovic’s game.

    While an extraordinary women’s final on Saturday between teenagers Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez had softened the spotlight’s glare in which the British player clinched her maiden win for the country after 44 years. The women’s final was the first Grand Slam to feature two unseeded players.

  • Djokovic levels Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal with 20th Grand Slam title

    Djokovic levels Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal with 20th Grand Slam title

    Novak Djokovic has beaten Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final to win a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title.

    Djokovic bounced back from a first-set wobble to win 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

    It was Djokovic’s sixth Wimbledon title and 20th at a major tournament, putting him tied for first on the all-time list with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

    The top-ranked Serb broke for a 4-3 lead in the fourth set when Berrettini double-faulted and earned another break in the final game.

    Djokovic had led 5-2 in the first set. Berrettini was playing in his first Grand Slam final.

    In the post-match ceremony, when asked about his 20th Grand Slam, he said: “I will not stop winning the Grand Slams and I hope they (Federer and Nadal) won’t stop either.

    “They are legends of our sport,” he said. “They are the two most important players that I ever faced in my career. They are the reason I am where I am today. They have helped me realise what I need to do to get stronger, physically, mentally and tactically.”

  • VIDEO: Three-time champion Novak Djokovic defaults out of US Open after hitting line judge with ball

    VIDEO: Three-time champion Novak Djokovic defaults out of US Open after hitting line judge with ball

    Novak Djokovic’s charge to his 18th Grand Slam title ended on Sunday after the Serbian defaulted following his petulant swipe at the ball that hit a line judge in the throat that resulted in the world number one’s disqualification from the US Open.

    The dramatic moment came when the overwhelming title favourite reacted angrily to going 5-6 down to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the first set of their fourth-round encounter at an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.

    What would have been an innocuous incident had the ball flown a foot either side of the official instead left her lying on the ground, clutching her throat and screaming in pain.

    There was no question that Djokovic hit her inadvertently, and he quickly rushed to apologise, but it was a clear breach of Grand Slam rules forbidding the physical abuse of anyone within the tournament precincts.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MF46cTBL8s

    Tournament referee Soeren Friemel came out and spoke to chair umpire Aurelie Tourte and Andreas Egli, the Grand Slam supervisor, before a long chat with the three-times US Open champion.

    Djokovic, who was clearly making the point that he had not intended to hit the official, was overheard saying “she doesn’t have to go to hospital for this” but after 12 minutes of pleading his case his fate was sealed.

    “I don’t think that there was any chance of any opportunity or any other decision than defaulting Novak,” Friemel later told reporters.

    “The facts were so clear and so obvious … (the line judge) was clearly hurt and Novak was angry, he hit the ball recklessly, angrily back.”

    A tournament spokesman told Reuters the line judge appeared to be okay and was “not brought off-site”. Her identity is not known. Djokovic eventually walked over to shake hands with a stunned Carreno Busta and trudged off the court before leaving the grounds without attending a press conference.

    The 33-year-old Serbian later posted an apology on Instagram.

    View this post on Instagram

    This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy. As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you and I’m so sorry. Cela ova situacija me čini zaista tužnim i praznim. Proverio sam kako se oseća linijski sudija, i prema informacijama koje sam dobio, oseća se dobro, hvala Bogu. Njeno ime ne mogu da otkrijem zbog očuvanja njene privatnosti. Jako mi je žao što sam joj naneo takav stres. Nije bilo namerno. Bilo je pogrešno. Želim da ovo neprijatno iskustvo, diskvalifikaciju sa turnira, pretvorim u važnu životnu lekciju, kako bih nastavio da rastem i razvijam se kao čovek, ali i teniser. Izvinjavam se organizatorima US Opena. Veoma sam zahvalan svom timu i porodici što mi pružaju snažnu podršku, kao i mojim navijačima jer su uvek uz mene. Hvala vam i žao mi je. Bio je ovo težak dan za sve.

    A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole) on

    “This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he wrote. “I’m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong.

    “I apologise to the (US Open) and everyone associated for my behaviour.”

  • Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic raise awareness about corona pandemic

    Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic raise awareness about corona pandemic

    Top tennis stars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have sent messages of encouragement while addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

    Federer released a social media video as part of a national public campaign, telling people to follow the recommended guidelines.

    “I’m also staying home, and I haven’t been shaking anybody’s hands for quite a lot time now,” he said. “I wash my hands very frequently as we’re supposed to, again and again. I believe helping each other is important more now than ever, especially because we want to help the older generation…we need to help them by keeping a distance of two meters and not shake hands.

    “We need to take this very seriously.”

    Nadal sent a video message in Spanish to health and safety workers.

    “I wanted to send a message of thanks to all the doctors, nurses and all the health personnel who are all protecting us, and to the police forces, civil and national guard, the army, and all those who make us feel a little safer, who are in the first line of fire,” Nadal said. “They are our heroes. I want to express my admiration and thank you all.”

    He also spoke of the solidarity in Spain, which has been the second-most affected country in Europe.

    “There are also positive things in these difficult times. We are demonstrating to be a united people,” he said.

    Nadal won the title at Acapulco just before the tour suspension began.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-A3UVNoXcq/

    Novak Djokovic, who had not dropped a match all season, also told his followers to listen to the guidelines.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-CQ5WAnNz-/

    “This is a time for us all to get together and unite. Let’s really try to spend quality time with our family at home. Please stay at home in quarantine and help frontline medical people to help the people infected and in need,” he said.

    All tour events through the clay season have been postponed or cancelled until June 8. The tours have also announced their decision to freeze the rankings.