via Reuters
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park as questions remain over the legal battle regarding his visa to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
via Reuters
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park as questions remain over the legal battle regarding his visa to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
The controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open is all that captivated the tennis world until a week ago. Before the tournament began, it was finally clear that the defending champion would not be playing in the major.
However, with the first Grand Slam of the year underway, there are still many questions that remain unanswered. Nevertheless, the CEO of Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley, stated that the matter is now at rest and there is no longer any ambiguity.
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Tennis Australia CEO puts the Novak Djokovic saga to rest
Amidst the controversy, there had been speculation that Craig Tiley would step down from his position following the Australian Open. However, he has made it clear that he would not be doing anything of the sort.
via Reuters
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs from the Park Hotel government detention facility before attending a court hearing at his lawyer’s office in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. AAP Image/James Ross via REUTERS
In fact, there had also been speculation that Tennis Australia had paid the legal fees for Novak Djokovic. After all, it was their organization that had allowed the medical exemption to the Serbian champion.
The @TennisAustralia chief executive Craig Tiley says he will not be stepping aside. Denies they have paid @DjokerNole legal fees. But claims every question regarding the process in terms of the saga has been answered. To suggest that is contestable would be an understatement.
— Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) January 20, 2022
However, Tiley also rubbished those rumors aside. Moreover, Tiley also claimed that every question in the saga has been answered. “Those reports are simply untrue,” Tiley categorically denied.
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“We’ve already addressed those questions,” Tiley stated. Then, he said that Tennis Australia is now simply “focusing on delivering a great event”. Many have opined that Novak Djokovic’s deportation and legal case took too much attention away from the tournament itself.
Djokovic’s Rolland Garros hopes diminish after new rules
Earlier this month, French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu had stated that Djokovic would be able to play the French Open. This was because France allowed unvaccinated people to enter their country.
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via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates as he holds the trophy after winning his Men’s Singles Final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during Day Fifteen of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 13, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
However, new laws passed in France now forbid anyone from entering any public place without a double-vaccination certificate. Thus, it would mean that Djokovic, the reigning French Open champion, would not be able to defend his title without taking the vaccine.
Novak Djokovic could be banned from French Open, too https://t.co/0nXdRhg7gk pic.twitter.com/2N0P6y2tvF
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) January 17, 2022
Do you think Novak Djokovic should finally change his resolve if he wants to play? Or are you in agreement with the Serbian star? Let us know in the comments below.
WATCH THIS STORY: Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty, And Other Tennis Stars React to Novak Djokovic Australian Open Controversy
