Novak Djokovic may be able to compete for a 10th Australian Open title next year. The Serb’s slim chances of playing at Melbourne Park in 2023 appear to have been given a boost despite being banned from the country for three years due to being unvaccinated and the deportation drama earlier this year.
But according to ABC, Djokovic could be back in Australia as early as this summer after the new Labor relaxed its rules on international arrivals. Health Minister Mark Butler said over the weekend that from July 6 foreign travellers will no longer have to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status upon entering Australia.
"The Chief Medical Officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status as part of our management of COVID," he said. The report also stated that the tennis legend’s team have been informed about the changes and are said to be putting plans in place to apply for a new visa. This will be based on grounds that the reasons for the visa cancellation no longer apply.
Back in January, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was ordered to leave the country after the government cancelled his visa on public health grounds. Djokovic fought the decision in court, but a judge ruled in favour of the government.
At the time, Australia required all foreign visitors to be vaccinated against Covid before entering the country, unless exempt. The unvaccinated Djokovic believed he was exempt after contracting the virus last month and therefore had some immunity towards it.
The government, however, maintained that he was a health risk and shouldn't be treated any differently to other foreign visitors and was sent home. This year however, Djokovic may face another spell on the sidelines as he looks set to be denied entry into America for the US Open.
The Serbian remains unjabbed and the US currently have no plans to relax their Covid-19 rules which requires travellers to have had the vaccine. US immigration recently dropped the requirement for all incoming passengers to return a negative Covid test before boarding an aeroplane, but maintained the need for proof of vaccination to be presented on arrival.
Djokovic has already missed events in the States this year - the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami back in March.
