World No 1 is loser in Australia’s border farce
Novak Djokovic has been deprived of his crowning tennis glory in Melbourne, not by a heroic five-set upset, but by an obstacle so easily avoided.
Last night, the Serb star lost what seemed to be the final point in his prolonged drive to play at the Australian Open, when that country’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke revoked his visa. The fault lies firmly on Djokovic’s side of the net.
When he finally does claim a record 21st Grand Slam title that, statistically speaking, will anoint him the greatest male tennis player in history, it will now come with the sour taste of him being widely disliked. That much, he has assured.
For all the Serb’s great feats, his most revealing actions are coming off the court. His legacy, by extension, will be tarnished.
Whether derived from wealth or sense of entitlement, it is an ugly trait. Without uttering a word, it screams ‘I am better than you, the rules don’t apply to me’.
Maybe the world No 1 thinks in his universe, there is no global pandemic, vaccines make no difference to public health (never mind polio or smallpox) and the globe is flat. Djokovic is no revolutionary. He is selfrighteous.
Unfortunately for the many lives and livelihoods lost, Covid-19 cannot be swatted away with a graceful backhand down the line. If only.
Having won the past three Australian Open titles — nine overall — Djokovic, somewhat understandably, feels as though he can walk on water in Melbourne.
His actions project a sense of a man who believes he can part the sea like he piercingly splits the white court lines; someone who cares only about himself.
Attending public events last month without wearing a mask while awaiting Covid test results and then, while knowingly Covid positive, putting others at risk, including children, is deeply irresponsible.
Doing so in Serbia is an offence under their criminal code that can lead to a fine or prison sentence — but don’t expect demigod Djokovic to face sanction in his homeland.
Misleading officials on travel documents by stating he had not travelled to Spain before entering Australia — a mistake apparently made by Djokovic’s agent — could be human error. Given the context, it
could just as easily be another example in a track record of living above the clouds.
Lest we forget the super-spreader event Djokovic held in 2020.
Regardless, few of us would expect to be well received by the Australian Border Force if we arrived on their doorstep with similar errors in our documentation during a pandemic.
Djokovic is entitled to his views but so, too, do individual countries hold the right to run their borders.
The denials and disdain from Djokovic and his team make a mockery of lives lost and the sacrifice and struggle millions have endured through lockdowns and ongoing restrictions.
The basic premise of vaccines, after all, is to not only protect oneself but also, more importantly, the vulnerable around us.
When Djokovic arrived to practise at Rod Laver Arena after winning his initial court case that overruled the government’s cancellation of his visa, the gym fell silent.
Sure, Australia’s Government is guilty of politicising a sorry saga. Had they immediately outlined their position to Tennis Australia, the risk of the world No 1 being pulled from the tournament could have been avoided.
The only positive from this fiasco is the light shone on Australia’s ghastly immigration policy after Djokovic spent four days detained alongside asylum seekers, some of whom have been held in the same quarters for seven years.
Yet even amid the populist and cynical vote-grabbing plots, surely the greater crime is a superstar undermining efforts to address a global health crisis.
Australia won’t be the last place Djokovic encounters these issues. He must now grasp the notion that no athlete — no matter how formidable — is above border rules.