TIMELINE OF NO-VAX AFFAIR

2020

NOVAK DJOKOVIC publicly declares he is ‘opposed to vaccination’ and ‘wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel’. He was slammed in the summer for organising his own tournament, the Adria Tour, at the height of Covid’s first peak. The even was curtailed early due to positive tests for himself and a number of other players.

OCTOBER 2021

LOCAL government in the Australian state of Victoria (where Melbourne is) announce that all professional athletes must be double-jabbed to gain entry to the country.

LAST TUESDAY

THE Serb posts a picture of himself on social media boarding a flight and reveals: ‘Today I’m heading Down Under with exemption permission.’ Tennis Australia, in conjunction with the local government, insist that this is true. The tennis world reacts with fury — and Jamie Murray suggests this was another case of tennis favouring its star players.

WEDNESDAY

DJOKOVIC lands at Tullamarine airport in Melbourne and is held for around nine hours by Australian Border Force. His exemption is withdrawn, his visa is cancelled and he is transferred to a state-run immigration facility that is used to house asylum-seekers.

THURSDAY

FANS gather outside the hotel where Djokovic is being held to protest. Djokovic’s parents — back home in Serbia — label the facility a ‘prison’. Djokovic’s father compares his son to Jesus and claims he is being ‘crucified for his values’.

FRIDAY

DJOKOVIC breaks his silence and thanks his fans for their support. Meanwhile, Czech doubles player Renata Voracova is held at the same hotel after her exemption is also rejected.

SATURDAY

COURT documents reveal Djokovic registered a positive Covid test on December 16 — which forms the basis of his exemption. Pictures show he attended a public event with children the day after the positive test.

YESTERDAY

THE judge hearing Djokovic’s appeal orders his release — overturning the visa cancellation.