‘Contradiction and Complexity’: Australian Open 2022 Director Opens up on Novak Djokovic Saga

The Novak Djokovic saga in Melbourne is finally at rest. After weeks of speculation and controversy, the World No. 1 left the country, forsaking his title defense at the Australian Open 2022.

In fact, the Australian government had seemed hell-bent on deporting the Serbian. They canceled Djokovic’s visa twice. Firstly, the minute the champion landed in Australia, and secondly, a re-cancellation of his visa after a federal judge stayed the previous one.

In the midst of all this, Tennis Australia, too, has been under fire. Many have stated that Tennis Australia should not have given Novak Djokovic his medical exemption in the first place. Now, the CEO of Tennis Australia has chalked the entire episode up as a result of miscommunication and ever-changing rules.

A dynamic situation led to the Novak Djokovic mess in Melbourne

Speaking to ABC News, Craig Tiley, the director for the Australian Open 2022, spoke about how difficult things had become. Re-emphasizing his stance that he would not be resigning his position amidst the controversy, Tiley addressed the Novak Djokovic saga which stuck out as a sore spot on the Happy Slam’s image this year.

When asked if they’d done everything necessary prior to the defending champion’s arrival, Tiley called the environment “incredibly challenging, with forever-changing conditions”. Furthermore, he stressed how a tournament of this scale requires gigantic amounts of communication.

“There was a lot of contradiction and complexity with information,” Tiley stated. Moreover, he also revealed how Tennis Australia had sought clarity on the matter multiple times from the Federal government. However, the nature of the current variant of the coronavirus was such that the rules kept evolving to keep up.

On the other hand, Novak Djokovic had entered Australia with full conviction in his medical exemption. After all, it was the Chief Medical Officer of Tennis Australia who had granted him the exemption on grounds of a prior infection in December.

ALSO READ: ‘Simply Untrue’: Australian Open Director Puts an End to Rumors Related to Novak Djokovic

However, with the changing rules, the government nullified the prior infection grounds. Consequently, Djokovic’s exemption no longer had any ground to stand on.

Djokovic’s French Open hopes diminish after changed laws

Earlier this month, the French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu had stated that Novak Djokovic would be allowed in France. Despite being unvaccinated, Djokovic could have played the French Open because the nation allows unvaccinated people within its borders.

However, with new vaccine laws that the French government introduced, the situation has now changed. No longer are unvaccinated individuals allowed in public places anymore.

Thus, with Novak’s stance on the vaccine and his personal medical status regarding the same, it would be impossible for the Serbian to defend his French Open title unless he were to get the jab.

Of course, things might just change again, if the current variant’s dynamic history is any example. Thus, it remains to be seen what Novak Djokovic would do in order to increase his Grand Slam tally against longtime rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Moreover, Tiley himself confirmed that Djokovic would be back Down Under next year to play the first major of the year 2023.

WATCH THIS STORY: Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty, And Other Tennis Stars React to Novak Djokovic Australian Open Controversy