‘You’re our champ’: Serbs greet Djokovic
BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic arrived home in Serbia yesterday after Australia deported the world No.1 for not having a Covid-19 vaccine, a stance jeopardising his quest for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
“You are our champion, Novak!” chanted supporters, some waving national flags, outside Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport.
The 34-year-old has won nine Australia Opens and is level with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer on 20 major titles.
But instead of beginning his quest for another Melbourne Park crown, he took planes to Dubai then Belgrade after being twice detained in a hotel with asylum seekers then unceremoniously booted out by Australian immigration.
“100 percent the Australian Open has lost its value. Whoever wins it now, doesn’t really count. Because Djokovic is the No.1,” said Alek Drakoo, a member of the local Serbian community in Melbourne.
The government’s decision was in tune with Australian public opinion because of Djokovic’s stance on inoculation, but authorities have been criticised for not resolving the issue before he arrived.
Under Australian law, he cannot be granted another visa for three years unless the immigration minister accepts there are compelling or compassionate reasons.
But Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted there may be a way to allow him in next year.
“There is the opportunity for [a person] to return in the right circumstances, and that will be considered at the time,” he said.
France said Djokovic would be barred from playing the French Open in May and June as things stand now because of a new vaccine pass law.
“This will apply to everyone who is a spectator or a professional sportsperson,” the ministry said in a statement.
But it added, however, that the pandemic situation could change by then.
“We’ll see, but clearly there’s no exemption,” the minister said.
Fellow Serbian players said yesterday Djokovic has the mental steel to overcome his Australian Open debacle and come back even stronger.
Serbian Laslo Djere, ranked 51st, backed the 20-time Grand Slam champion to draw inspiration from the episode.
“That’s what he does. That’s also in our Serbian mentality,” the 26-year-old Djere said.
“When we get beat down or we are treated a bad way or how we maybe don’t deserve, we just try to — especially him, tries to be inspired by that and gain strength from that.
“I’m sure that he will come back stronger than ever.”