In a statement on Sunday, top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic expressed profound disappointment over the cancellation of his visa to enter Australia. Despite the setback, Djokovic pledged cooperation with authorities regarding his departure from the country. The Serbian athlete, who hoped the attention would now shift back to tennis and the Australian Open Grand Slam, starting in Melbourne on Monday, emphasized his commitment to rest and recuperate before making further comments.
Djokovic had contested the decision by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to revoke his visa, citing concerns about potential public disorder due to his unvaccinated status amid Australia’s severe COVID-19 outbreak. Following the court’s dismissal of his case, Djokovic, who secured a medical exemption to participate in the Melbourne Park major, expressed respect for the court’s ruling and affirmed his cooperation with relevant authorities.
The 34-year-old, a nine-time Australian Open winner, faced a tumultuous 10-day period involving detentions and releases by authorities leading up to the tournament. Rafael Nadal, tied with Djokovic at 20 major titles, remarked on lingering questions surrounding Djokovic’s eligibility, and other players lamented the overshadowing of the Grand Slam event by the ongoing saga.
Expressing discomfort at being the center of attention in recent weeks, Djokovic expressed a hope for a renewed focus on the game and the tournament he loves. He extended wishes for success to players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers, and fans while thanking those who supported him during this challenging period.