Tennis Australia keeps out of Djokovic's visa application

Novak Djokovic wont get official support with lobbying from Tennis Australia should he seek to enter the country for the first major of 2023 a year after he was deported because he was not vaccinated for COVID19The 21time Grand Slam champion wasnt allowed to defend his Australian Open title last January after a tumultuous 10day legal saga that culminated with his visa being revoked on the eve of the tournament eventually won by Rafael NadalDjokovic originally was granted an exemption to strict vaccination rules by two medical panels and Tennis Australia in order to play in the Australian Open but after traveling to Melbourne believing he had all his paperwork in order the exemption was rejected by the Australian Border ForceAlso read ATP Final Novak Djokovicrsquos fab fourIt is not a matter we can lobby on It is a matter that definitely stays between the two of themiquest Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said Wednesday at a launch for the 2023 event referring to Djokovic and the Australian governmentAnd then depending on the outcome Tiley added we would welcome him to the Australian OpenBeing deported made Djokovic subject to a possible threeyear exclusion period that prevents the granting of a further temporary visa although Australian Border Force in January said any exclusion period will be considered as part of any new visa application and can be waived in certain circumstancesThe ABF said each cased is assessed on its meritsAustralia has changed its border rules and since July 6 incoming travelers no longer have to provide proof of COVID19 vaccinationsTiley was heavily criticized for his role in the confusion that led to the then topranked player in mens tennis landing in Australia believing he was exempt from strict laws for unvaccinated travelers then being questioned by border officials for hours at Melbourne Airport before being held in immigration detentionThe main source of confusion was the exemptions granted to Djokovic and some others by the state government and Tennis Australia to participate in the tournament despite regulations requiring all fans officials and players be vaccinated for COVID19 which ultimately still needed to be assessed by border security officialsDjokovic was allowed to practice at Melbourne Park after some initial success in a court of law but Australias Immigration Minister Alex Hawke ultimately used discretionary powers to cancel Djokovics visa on character grounds stating he was a iquesttalisman of a community of antivaccine sentimentA recent winner of tournaments in Israel and Kazakhstan Djokovic can apply to new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to reconsider his visa statusTiley who is also the Tennis Australia chief executive said he met with Djokovic in London last month during the Laver Cup and believes the Serbian star holds no bitterness about the sagaBut Tiley stressed that the pair spoke only generally about Djokovics visa situationHe said that he would obviously love to come back to Australia but he knows its going to be an ultimate decision for the Federal Government and he accepts that Tiley saidIf you notice he is playing a lot of tennis at the end of the year in anticipation and hope there is a successful outcome with his application But that is up to himiquestA review into episode that made global headlines has led to Tennis Australia outsourcing visa applications by players and their entourages to a company specializing in immigration mattersTiley said the Australian Open had no plans to follow the lead of Wimbledon which banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing this year because of the invasion of UkraineBut there will be no reference to the nationality of those players including 2022 Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev of Russia and twotime womens singles champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus as per tour rulesTiley declined to discuss plans for a revamp of the Australian schedule that is expected to include a new mixedteams tournament featuring 16 nations held across the country prior to the Australian OpenSuch a competition would have similarities to the longrunning Hopman Cup which was held in Perth for three decades prior to the introduction of the ATP Cup in 2020Tiley who promised the return of elite tennis to Perth for the first time since the pandemic while in Western Australia last week said a summer program will be outlined soonWe hope to have our major cities have a major event a different event a one of a kind he saidWe will make that announcement when we are ready to make that announcementThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever