The tennis player's Australian deportation has many debating about the merits and demerits of vaccination... but who is the biggest loser in this controversy?
It's been one hell of a new year for Novak Djokovic.
The Siberian tennis player might have completed the ATP tour with an impressive finish after winning five titles last year, securing one ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Rolex Paris Masters, an ATP 250 tournament in the Belgrade Open, and three Grand Slam trophies in the Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open. But a completely different affair awaited him at the Land Down Under.
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One would think that the nine-time Australian Open champion would be welcomed with open arms on his return to Australia, but his arrival was met with more controversy.
The tennis world No.1 was quite confident that he could play in the Australian Open as he was given an exemption from Australia's COVID-19 vaccination protocols. Although it was unclear that he had already been vaccinated, the uncertainty caused quite a stir. Given Djokovic's stance against vaccination and after learning he was exempted despite testing positive for COVID-19 in December, people have the right to be enraged.
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The Serbian tennis player flew to the country only to learn that officials have cancelled his visa and announced that they are sending him back. Djokovic was denied entry as officials reveal that he was not qualified for the exemption.