Novak Djokovic is keen to return to the Australian Open after his sensational deportation in January. This was announced by tournament director Craig Tiley on Wednesday. But it is up to the Serbs themselves to clarify “the situation” with the government. Vaccination opponent Djokovic, who was expelled from the country in January after a legal dispute, is currently banned from entering Australia for three years.
“I spent some time with Novak at the Laver Cup,” Tiley told The Age newspaper: “He said that of course he would like to come back to Australia, but he knows that the decision ultimately rests with the federal government.” The long-running number one of the world rankings “accepted this point of view”.
“Would be a slap in the face”
Opposition politician Karen Andrews, who was Djokovic’s interior minister at the time of the deportation, rejects extra treatment for the nine-time tournament winner. “It would be a slap in the face to the people of Australia if Novak Djokovic was suddenly allowed back into the country simply because he is a senior tennis player,” Andrews told ABC radio.
Tiley announced that at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne (January 16-29, 2023), Russians and Belarusians are eligible to play as neutral athletes. However, the athletes are not allowed to represent Russia and Belarus with official logos or flags because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
