Sanity – and justice – has finally prevailed over Novak Djokovic.
The world’s no.1 tennis star, famed for his anti-vaccination stance, should never have even boarded a plane for Australia’s Open tournament in the first place.
His ego, however, has always dwarfed even his bulging trophy cabinet.
Like most outstanding athletes, Serbia’s finest is also surrounded by people seemingly unwilling to say no to him. This is common among divas whose entourage would rather maintain they can find a way to make it happen than tell the truth.
All top sports stars have such sycophants within their circle. Especially those with massive commercial value who stand astride their discipline as the leading competitor by a distance, as he does.
They are the ones who somehow manage to convince their client the rules don’t apply to them, that they are bigger than the little people. That a phone call should sort it out for a legendary, nine-time winner of the Australian Open.
Never mind the fact that 97% of the other top 100 players had already been vaccinated. Or that the country has some of the toughest border policies in the world.
Never mind public opinion or the optics of bending the rules to suit the Serb while millions of Australians made sacrifices of the kind we in the UK were forced to make last year, and are still making.
Try jetting off to Australia with one detail out of place on your visa form and see how far you get. We’d be gone.
Yet Djokovic thought he was bigger than the tournament and the country. That’s what happens when you are so indulged, so often it goes to your head.
This is not about his choice to refuse the jab. He is entitled to that stance. But Australia is also within its rights to give him short shrift if he turns up expecting his visa application not to be given the same scrutiny as everyone else.
The fact that his case was sorted out in a matter of days reflects horrendously on a country where some detainees have been waiting months, years even, to have theirs heard.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces tough questions this week over the plight of 32 refugees and asylum seekers at the same Melbourne establishment where Djokovic was held, some detained almost nine years after being denied visas.
Now we’ve established it can be done, will theirs be expedited more quickly?
Because this is not just an issue about Djokovic. It is yet another reminder there is one rule for us and another if you have money, are decent at tennis, or come from a different social class. Sympathy for Novak Djokovic? Do me a favour.
