Australian government send Novak Djokovic home

After a lot of talk about whether Novak Djokovic would be able to participate at the Australian Open as an unvaccinated player, the Australian government have now taken the decision to refuse entry to the world No.1 over an issue with his visa.

Djokovic's lawyers are now considering appealing the decision taken by the Australian government, who argue that the Serb has provided insufficient evidence to enter a country where his coaching staff were already waiting: coach Goran Ivanisevic and physiotherapist Ulises Badio.

Djokovic took a flight to Victoria yesterday with the assurance of having received a medical exemption due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19, but a mistake on his visa application complicated his access to Australia.

The 34-year-old exemption to play in the first grand slam of the year was that he had had COVID-19 in the last six months and therefore did not require the mandatory vaccination which all other participants in the Australian Open have needed.

After seven hours of being held in a room at an airport, guarded by two policemen and unable to use his mobile phone, Djokovic has been informed that he has not met the requirements to set foot in Melbourne.

Therefore, the 20-time grand slam champion, who has been victorious on nine occasions in the Australian Open, is left without the option of defending a title he had won in the last three editions.

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