Novak Djokovic‘s court setback is also a setback for the Australian Open, a setback for tennis fans and a setback for the sport in general.
Leaving aside, for a moment, everything that led to his deportation from Australia on Sunday — an inconceivable reason for any athlete to miss a competition — who wouldn’t have wanted to see the player who dominated the Grand Slams in 2021 and struggling in what It would have been a historic title to start 2022.
Unaccustomed to losing on the big stages, especially recently, the Serb could have gone for his tenth trophy at Melbourne Park, beating his own record. As well as reaching a 21st major title, breaking the record he shares with Rafael Nadal (who is in Australia) and Roger Federer (absent due to knee surgery).
Instead, when the tournament opens on Monday, Nadal, the 2009 champion, is left as Australia’s only former champion in the 28-man field.
Less than 18 hours before the tournament begins, a three-judge panel unanimously upheld the immigration minister’s right to cancel Djokovic’s visa, thus dismissing his latest effort to play, the end of what the Tour of the ATP summed it up as an “unfortunate series of events”.
And to think that the 11-day saga could have been avoided with Djokovic getting vaccinated against COVID-19 — like 95% of the top 100 female and male tennis players in their respective rankings — or like with at least two other players who were not inoculated and they were out, and I would have accepted that I couldn’t attend the Australian Open.
The vaccine was a requirement for everyone who attends the tournament: players, coaches and other members, fans, press and anyone who is on site.
Djokovic sought — and initially received — a medical waiver, saying he tested positive for COVID-19 in December. In the end, he was forced to leave Australia because he was seen as someone who could spark anti-vaccine sentiment in the country, and like many others, he has seen an increase in omicron cases.
This is the reason why it generated so much attention.
What happens next with Djokovic will be fascinating to follow, because there is so much uncertainty, at least in part because he hasn’t faced or spoken to the press since arriving in Melbourne on January 5.
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