NOVAK FOCUS ON 10TH TITLE
WHAT THEY SAID
they shut down their own borders in the hope the virus could be kept off their own island. One or two positive cases in the same part of town is classified as an outbreak worthy of keeping everyone else off the streets.
Their people have paid a heavy price. It’s no wonder if resentment is bubbling over when they see Djokovic playing so fast and so loose with the rules in order to keep hold of his crown.
Look, there’s no doubting his talent. If he should win the title for a 10th time he’ll not only break his own record Down Under but also become the single most decorated player in the history of the men’s game, taking his Grand Slam haul to 21.
But Djokovic has become so consumed by chasing after “Whether or not you agree with some of the things regarding Djokovic, without doubt justice has spoken and has said that he has the right to play in the Australian Open, and that’s really the fairest way.” “I got vaccinated because of others and for my mum’s health. How we are handling Novak’s situation is bad.” “Only thing left to do is win the trophy again and leave town never to return.” “It’s unbelievable, what a saga. It could have been avoided. I just wish Novak had taken that tennis immortality that it has given him an unhealthy and distorted sense of his own self importance.
So deluded and detached from reality has he become it seems he truly believes the whole world has been in his corner throughout his harrowing weekend in a three-star bed. If that’s the case he’s in for a shock when he finally does appear on a court of his choice next week.
This, after all, is a vaccination to begin with. I admire him so much but I can’t defend the choice to not get vaccinated. You have to take one for the team.” “Judge Kelly solving the messdisaster-absurdity that other parties involved have created. Tennis wins.” “It would be irony of ironies if one of the great sporting records is broken two weeks after the beginning of the Australian Open and the last shot of the Aussie Open we see is Novak Djokovic holding the trophy aloft for a 10th time and breaking the tie with Roger and Rafa.” notoriously thin-skinned man with a history of histrionics whenever he has been cast as the pantomime villain. And, for what it’s worth, it has happened too many times down the years to be a coincidence. And yet there may still be a happy ending to this whole, unedifying drama. If the locals – who are hardly known for their restraint – let him know how they really feel about his selfishness, it seems likely Djokovic will get the needle Down Under after all.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC was back on a tennis court last night after winning his battle to gain entry to Australia.
The world No.1 tweeted: “I’m pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @ AustralianOpen.
“I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.
“For now I cannot say more but thank you all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong.”
But his chances of making it to his opening match remain in the balance, with immigration minister Alex Hawke considering whether to exercise extraordinary powers to reissue the visa cancellation.
And a celebratory press conference held by his family in Belgrade had to be cut short when questions were asked about the world No.1’s decision to meet and greet dozens of Serbian children the day after discovering he had tested positive for Covid.
Earlier yesterday Judge Anthony Kelly sided with Djokovic in a chaotic court hearing, asking “what more could this man have done?”.
Djokovic’s lawyers had claimed that being given just 20 minutes at 4am to prove his exemption credentials showed he was unfairly treated.
Speaking in Belgrade, his mother Dijana described her son’s successful appeal as “the biggest win of his career – bigger than any of the Grand Slams he’s won”.
But his brother called an
BY MATTHEW DUNN abrupt halt to proceedings when the family were quizzed on what appeared to be breaches of Serbian law over isolation protocols after he tested positive on December 16. Djordje Djokovic said: “This press conference is adjourned, thank you for attention.”
A spokesman for the Australian immigration minister warned the saga may have another twist, saying: “It remains within Hawke’s discretion to consider cancelling Mr Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation. The minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing.”
Fans of the Serb were pepper-sprayed by police as they surrounded a car, believed to have the player as a passenger, leaving his lawyer’s office following the hearing, which had started in bizarre fashion.
The public were able to watch the online hearing as Djokovic’s lawyers, the judge’s office and the Australian government’s lawyers reached a decision.
But the link was hijacked and porn was shown and music played, forcing the court to create a new link. The system crashed several times as people increasingly logged into the live feed.
Rafa Nadal, who has previously said his rival should have avoided the controversy by being vaccinated, said: “It seems perfect to me – in the end, totally correct.
“Whether or not you agree with some of the things regarding Djokovic, without doubt justice has spoken and has said that he has the right to play in the Australian Open, and that’s really the fairest way.”