MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic will not receive official support from Tennis Australia if he seeks to enter Australia for the first Grand Slam tournament of 2023, a year after he was banned there for not having been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Winner of 21 Grand Slam singles tournaments, Djokovic was barred from defending his Australian Open title last January after a turbulent 10-day legal saga that culminated in his visa being revoked on the eve of the tournament eventually won by Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic was initially granted an exemption from strict vaccination rules by two medical teams and Tennis Australia to play at the Australian Open. However, after traveling to Melbourne believing all his papers were in order, the exemption was refused by Australian border authorities.
“It’s not an issue we can put pressure on. That’s a matter that, without a doubt, remains between the two parties,” Australian Open director Craig Tiley said Wednesday at the launch of the 2023 event, referring to Djokovic and the Australian government.
“And then, depending on the outcome,” Tiley added, “we’ll welcome him to the Australian Open.”
The deportation meant the Serbian tennis player was subject to a possible three-year exclusion period, which prevents him from being granted a new temporary visa. Separately, Australian border officials said in January that any exclusion periods “will be considered as part of any new visa application and may be waived under certain conditions”.
Australia has changed its border rules and, from July 6, incoming travelers no longer need to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
