Novak Djokovic's hopes of overturning his ban from Australia in time to play the first Grand Slam event of 2023 have been dealt a blow by one of the country's leading politicians.
The Serbian star is currently serving a three year ban from traveling down under, following his explosive visa saga that overshadowed the 2021 Australian Open. Having initially been granted a medical exemption to compete, Djokovic was detained by border force officials upon his arrival in Victoria.
After it emerged the 21-time Slam winner had submitted false information on his immigration forms, he was detained in a hotel in Victoria before initially winning a legal ruling and being released. However, former minister for immigration Alex Hawke then successfully had that decision overturned, forcing Djokovic to fly home just a day before the tournament began.
As it stands, the 35-year-old can't enter Australia until 2024, and his hopes of getting his suspension reversed have now been dealt a blow by Dan Tehan, despite the politician wanting him to play: "As a tennis lover, I’d love to see him there," he told Sky News Australia .
Tehan also acknowledged that you no longer had to be vaccinated to enter the country, but added Djokovic could not simply be let back in without justified amendments: “But the most important thing here is that we protect the integrity of our immigration system," he continued.
"The rules about coming into Australia have changed, you don't have to be vaccinated anymore. If they decide that he can come, they’ve got to do so in making that decision in a way to protect the integrity of our immigration system.”
The government in Australia has changed since January, with Tehan part of the former party that was in power for the dramatic episode nine months ago. And the Liberal party member defended the decision to deport him, arguing: “It was the right decision because there were requirements that needed to be met for him to enter the country,” he added.
Current Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews has been more scathing with her assessment, telling ABC Radio on Monday: “(Why should) Novak Djokovic be allowed back into the country simply because he’s a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars? It shouldn’t be just one rule for him and a different rule for everyone else.”
Djokovic won Wimbledon this summer but was forced to skip the US Open over his continued refusal to be vaccinated. The current world No 7 has been resolute in insisting he won't get jabbed simply to be able to play more tournaments.
