Report: Novak Djokovic in talks to sue Australian gov't for $4.4m over 'ill treatment' at border



Unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic is reportedly in talks to sue the Australian government for the equivalent of $4.4 million after recently being deported from the country for fear that his presence would "excite anti-vaccination sentiment."

What's the background?

Djokovic, the world's No. 1 tennis player, was stopped at the Australian border and held in immigration detention earlier this month upon his arrival in Melbourne ahead of the 2022 Australian Open.

Despite being unvaccinated against COVID-19, the star athlete had been granted a vaccine exemption by Tennis Australia, the country's governing body for the sport, which allowed him to compete. The exemption was also approved by the Victoria state government. However, the national government and the Australian Border Force threw a wrench into the situation when they refused to sponsor the Serb's visa upon his arrival.

The actions set off a days-long back-and-forth between Djokovic's team, local governing authorities, and the national government. At one point, the tennis star was reportedly held in a room guarded by police at Melbourne's airport.

The fiasco eventually ended when a three-judge panel sided with Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's decision to revoke the visa on public interest grounds. Hawke had claimed that Djokovic's entry into the country would foster an anti-vaccination sentiment among citizens. The panel found his reasoning was not “irrational or illogical or not based on relevant material."

What's happening now?

But Djokovic, a 20-time Grand Slam winner and the Australian Open defending champion, is reportedly not satisfied with how things went down and is considering suing the Australian government for "ill treatment." The news was first reported by the Sun.

The British tabloid reported that a source close to his agent Edoardo Artaldi said, “It’s well known that Novak and his family feel he was poorly treated in the quarantine hotel in Melbourne. His mother revealed how it was full of fleas and maggots. He was kept a virtual prisoner.”

Djokovic's lawyer, Toma Fila, added: “He was subjected to humiliating treatment. He should sue.”

The Sun noted that the lawsuit figure includes the Australian Open prize money that Djokovic, 34, could have won if he had been allowed to compete.

What else?

Djokovic has yet to speak out about the potential lawsuit, but his frustrations with the Australian government are obvious. The Serb suffered through 11 days of quarantine in the country as he fought to have his visa accepted.

Following the court's final decision on Sunday, the tennis star said in a statement, "I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country."

The board of Tennis Australia also commented on the situation after the ruling, saying, "We recognise that recent events have been a significant distraction for everyone, and we deeply regret the impact this had on all players."

It has not been revealed why Djokovic received an exemption from Tennis Australia to play in the event. However, exemptions were granted for a number of reasons, including acute major medical conditions, a serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the past six months.

Novak Djokovic faces deportation from Australia again, this time because his presence may 'excite anti-vaccination sentiment'



Men's world number-one tennis player Novak Djokovic had his visa application revoked by the Australian government a second time due to his being unvaccinated against COVID-19. The Serbian tennis star now faces deportation once again and will be unable to defend his title at the 2022 Australian Open unless he can win a last-minute appeal.

The Guardian reported that Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday used his ministerial discretion to revoke Djokovic's visa on public interest grounds, saying his presence at the tournament could "excite anti-vaccination sentiment."

In a statement, the minister reportedly said he canceled the visa "on health and good order grounds, [and] on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so." He added that Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government "is firmly committed to protecting Australia's borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic."

The order was given just three days prior to the grand slam tournament, which Djokovic has won a record nine times. Its close proximity to the first match makes it unlikely that the tennis player will be able to compete.

Immediately following the order, Djokovic’s attorney, Nicholas Wood, proposed a hearing to consider overturning the cancellation. He argued there was "no rational basis" for the conclusion and noted that Hawke’s reasoning was "radically different" from the reason for the first cancellation.

Last week, Djokovic was stopped at the Australian border and held in a room guarded by police after landing in Melbourne en route to the tournament grounds at Melbourne Park.

Though unvaccinated, he had been granted a vaccine exemption by Tennis Australia, the country's governing body for the sport, allowing him to compete. The exemption was also approved by the Victoria state government. But the national government and the Australian Border Force essentially overruled the exemption and refused to sponsor his visa.

According to ESPN, Djokovic spent four nights in an immigration detention hotel before a judge overturned the ruling and ordered his release. That same judge, Anthony Kelly, will reportedly preside over the new appeal, but Djokovic's fate remains uncertain.

The sports outlet said Djokovic will remain free Friday night but will have to return to immigration detention when he meets with Australian Border Force officials Saturday morning. It also noted that deportation from Australia can lead to a three-year ban from the country, though that ban can be waived in certain circumstances.

In response to the news, Prime Minister Morrison praised his immigration minister's actions, citing the suffering that Australians have had to endure throughout the pandemic and the lengths they have gone to in order to slow the virus' spread.

"This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian, but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods. ... Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected," Morrison reportedly said in a statement. "This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today."

Everyone at the Australian Open — including players, staff, and spectators — is required to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Acceptable reasons for receiving an exemption are acute major medical conditions, serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the past six months.

There has been much speculation over the reason for Djokovic's exemption, though many believe it to be infection within the previous six months. That has not been confirmed, however.

Unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic reportedly stopped at Australian border, held in room guarded by police amid outrage over his vaccine exemption



Novak Djokovic — the world's number-one tennis player — has been stopped at the Australian border and is being held in a room guarded by police following intense backlash over a medical exemption he was granted allowing him to play in the 2022 Australian Open, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday.

What are the details?

According to a report from Melbourne newspaper, the Age, the Victorian state government rejected a request to sponsor the tennis star's visa just hours before he landed in the country Tuesday night. The rejection reportedly stemmed from concerns over evidence supporting his vaccine exemption as well as an allegedly erroneous visa application.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner and defending Australian Open champion was recently granted exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate by Tennis Australia, the country's governing body for the sport, to compete in this month's tournament.

But government sources speaking to the Age suggested that the conditions that afforded him medical exemption from the athletics organization may not be enough to grant him entry into the country due to the government's strict rules for unvaccinated individuals.

ESPN reported that Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic, said that "Novak is currently in a room which no one can enter" and "in front of the room are two policemen."

The outlet noted that among allowed reasons for a vaccination exemption are acute major medical conditions, serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the previous six months.

Infection within the past six months has been speculated as the reason Djokovic was granted an exemption; however, that suggestion has not been confirmed.

What else?

The tennis star, who has in the past been outspoken about his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines, raised eyebrows when he posted on Instagram Tuesday that he was "heading Down Under with an exemption permission" to defend his Australian Open title.

The announcement reportedly sparked national outrage. Many Australians chastised the governing authorities for creating a double standard by allowing unvaccinated celebrity figures like Djokovic to live by one set of rules while forcing regular citizens, who have been suffering under stringent COVID-19 lockdown measures for more than a year, to live by another.

But Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has defended the "completely legitimate application and process" and insisted there was no special treatment for Djokovic, according to ESPN. Tiley added that it would be "helpful" if Djokovic explained to the public the reasoning for his exemption but said he was under no obligation to do so.

Anything else?

Djokovic's prospects of gaining entry to the country are now reportedly in limbo. There appears to be an ongoing standoff between federal and state leaders over whether the tennis star should be allowed access or not.

Early this morning, Jaala Pulford, Victoria state's acting minister for sports, tweeted that the federal government had asked her to support Djokovic's visa application. But she said she denied the request, sending the issue back to the federal government.

We\u2019ve always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.\n\n2/2
— Jaala Pulford MP (@Jaala Pulford MP) 1641384891

According to the Age, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Djokovic “must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons."

“If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and will be on the next plane home — there should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic,” he added.