Novak Djokovic’s bid to recover from laws requiring gamers to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 on the Australian Open continues to be in limbo.
Two panels authorised his request for a medical exemption to enter the state of Victoria, the place the primary Grand Slam tennis event of the yr is held, after testing optimistic prior to now six months for the illness brought on by the novel coronavirus. is predicated.
Djokovic’s visa was revoked by border officers upon arrival in Australia, earlier than a decide overturned and stated the 34-year-old from Serbia may keep. As of Wednesday, Djokovic’s case was within the arms of Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, who has the facility to disclaim visas and have the top-ranked participant go away the nation.
Djokovic is a nine-time champion on the Australian Open, together with every of the final three years. He holds a complete of 20 Grand Slam singles titles, becoming a member of him with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for probably the most titles gained by a person in tennis historical past.
Here’s a take a look at the timeline of occasions linked to Djokovic’s journey to Australia, from a remark about COVID-19 vaccination almost two years in the past to his first complete remarks on Wednesday in an effort to make clear some components of the matter:
April 2020: As the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic rages on, Djokovic issued an announcement saying, “Personally I oppose vaccination against COVID-19 to be able to travel. But if it becomes mandatory, then I will have to decide whether to do it or not.”
June 2020: With skilled tennis excursions on hiatus as a result of pandemic, Djokovic organizes a collection of exhibition matches in Serbia and Croatia with no guidelines requiring social distancing or masking. Adria Tour has been known as off after some gamers examined optimistic for COVID-19; Djokovic and his spouse Jelena have examined optimistic.
November 19, 2021: Confirming an order made by the Victorian state authorities in late October, event director Craig Tilly says everybody on the 2022 Australian Open needs to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Djokovic’s vaccine standing on the time is unknown.
December 8, 2021: Victoria State’s deputy premier James Merlino says the medical exemption for the vaccine coverage wouldn’t be “a loophole for privileged tennis players” and would solely be potential “in exceptional circumstances, if you have a serious medical condition”.
December 14, 2021: Djokovic attends an expert basketball sport in Belgrade and is photographed embracing a number of gamers from each groups, a few of whom later examined optimistic.
December 16, 2021: Djokovic examined optimistic for COVID-19 in Serbia, though this isn’t public information till disclosed by court docket paperwork in January. He later stated that he was not conscious of the consequence until December 17.
December 17, 2021: Djokovic attended an occasion in Belgrade to honor younger tennis gamers. Parents publish footage on social media exhibiting Djokovic and younger gamers with out masks. Djokovic later stated he was asymptomatic, took an antigen check earlier than the incident, which confirmed he was destructive, and solely acquired a optimistic PCR consequence after the incident.
December 18, 2021: Knowing that he has examined optimistic, Djokovic conducts an interview and photograph shoot with the French newspaper L’Equipe. He admits weeks later: “On reflection, it was an error of judgement.”
December 22, 2021: According to court docket paperwork, Djokovic examined destructive for COVID-19 in Serbia.
December 29, 2021: Djokovic withdrew from Serbia’s squad for the ATP Cup just a few days earlier than the beginning of the competitors in Sydney. No motive has been given.
January 1, 2022: Tilly was requested in a TV interview about Djokovic’s standing for the Australian Open and he replied: “There is a lot to play for now and I think it will play out in the coming days.”
January 4, 2022: Djokovic posted a photograph of himself at an airport on Instagram with the caption: “I’m going downstairs with exemptions allowed.”
Tennis Australia confirmed with an announcement that Djokovic is on the best way to the nation with a medical exemption “given after a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts.”
Neither Djokovic nor Tennis Australia disclosed the premise of his exemption. Tilly says out of 26 functions from gamers or others, a “handful” of exemptions have been granted. A public outcry broke out amongst Australians on social media whereas Djokovic’s flight to Melbourne is within the air.
January 5, 2022: Djokovic arrived at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
January 6, 2022: After being detained for about eight hours upon arrival, Djokovic is denied entry into the nation and his visa is revoked. He is shipped to an immigration resort, the place he stays for 4 nights.
Australian Border Force says Djokovic failed to satisfy entry necessities. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted: “Rules are the rules, especially when it comes to our borders.”
January 10, 2022: As a part of his authorized try and revoke the visa, Djokovic submitted an affidavit saying he has not been vaccinated for COVID-19.
Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovic’s visa, ruling that the participant was not given enough time to talk together with his legal professionals earlier than the choice to disclaim him entry to the airport. Kelly orders the federal government to launch Djokovic from immigration detention. Hours later, Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park.
January 11, 2022: With his place nonetheless unsure, Djokovic has been established because the No. 1 seed for the boys’s subject on the Australian Open. The event strictly follows the present rankings in figuring out seeding and Djokovic is ranked No. 1; He has spent extra weeks atop the ATP than every other individual within the historical past of the computerized rating of the boys’s skilled tour.
January 12, 2022: Djokovic’s most generally public feedback on the matter come by way of a publish on social media that somebody posted whereas working towards on the principal stadium of the Australian Open.
He admits to a mistake on his journey announcement to Australia, which didn’t point out that he had been to a number of nations prior to now two weeks.
Djokovic blamed his agent for checking the mistaken field on the shape, calling it “a human error and certainly not intentional”. He additionally clarifies in regards to the time and whereabouts of his optimistic COVID-19 check from December onwards.
January 13, 2022: The Australian Open draw is scheduled to happen, figuring out the boys’s and ladies’s singles brackets for the event.
January 17, 2022: The sport is about to start at Melbourne Park.
The males’s singles last is January 30.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
