Danielle Parhizkaran is a sports reporter for USA TODAY.
8:52 PM
The chances of Novak Djokovic winning his 10th Australian Open in 2022 were all but dashed on Thursday after he was denied entrance into Australia. The first Grand Slam of the year is just a week and a half away, with Novak Djokovic arriving in Melbourne late on Wednesday night. He had been granted a medical exemption for the country's vaccine requirements to compete in the tournament, but on a strange day in which he was held at the airport for eight hours, his visa was denied.
Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, said that Mr. Djokovic's visa had been canceled. Rules are important when it comes to our borders. No one is above the rules.
In an interview on Thursday morning, Australia's Minister of Health Greg Hunt said that he failed to provide appropriate standards of proof for his exemption to border officials.
There has been a lot of speculation about the status of Novak Djokovic for the first Grand Slam of the year due to his reluctance to get the vaccine. He has never made a public statement about whether or not he is vaccine free, but he has called it a private matter.
He decided to play in the tournament and was on his way to Australia. It's not clear if he will leave the country or try to appeal the ruling and stay in a hotel nearby, after days of public criticism over the exemption decision.
What does this mean for the tournament, and how did this happen? Here's what we know so far.
Is vaccines required for players at the Australian Open?
The answer is yes. All players, as well as everyone on the grounds at Melbourne Park, must have completed the full dose of the vaccine in order to participate.
One could apply for an exemption if they met any of the guidelines suggested by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, which include proof of a COVID-19 infection in the past six months, a "serious adverse event" from a previous dosage of the vaccine, or an acute
26 people associated with the event applied for an exemption and only a few were approved, according to Craig Tiley.
Why was the sportsman granted an exemption?
We don't know for sure because of privacy laws. There have been no reports of a new case of the virus since June 2020.
The names of the panels that reviewed the applications were redacted for privacy, according to Tiley. Tiley said it was a legitimate application and process.
There was speculation that he wouldn't compete at the Australian Open after he withdrew from this week's ATP Cup. On Tuesday, he revealed he was going to Australia for the tournament. He wrote that he was heading Down Under with an exemption permission.
Why can't he play because it sounds like he was approved by the tournament?
The wrong type of visa was filed for the unvaccinated person who was granted an exemption by Tennis Australia. He was stopped at the airport on his way to Australia. Srdjan said that his son was isolated in a room by himself overnight while he spoke to Australian Border Force officials.
Srdjan told B 92 that Novak is in a room that no one can enter. Two policemen are in front of the room.
Goran Ivanisevic posted a picture from the airport with Ulises Badio, the doctor for Novak Djokovic. "Not the most usual trip Down Under" was the caption.
According to Paul Sakkal of The Age, the reason for his exemption was asked of him.
There were question marks about the reason for his exemption, according to a federal government source. Unvaccinated people are required to present the evidence at the border. The source said that it was not clear if the player's exemption was based on the fact that he had a COVID-19 infection in the past six months.
Scott Morrison insisted that he give evidence.
"Any individual who wants to enter Australia must comply with our border requirements," Morrison said.
He must provide proof that he can't be vaccine free for medical reasons. If the evidence is not sufficient, he won't be treated differently than anyone else and he'll be on the next plane home.
The final decision would be made by the Australian Border Force.
While the Victorian government and Tennis Australia may allow a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border. "If an arriving individual is not vaccine free, they must provide proof that they can't access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccine free travelers."
As a decision was made, he spoke to Border Force officials at the airport.
Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford said Border Force officials reached out to the government before the flight arrived asking if they could help sponsor the visa application of Novak Djokovic. She said it declined.
We've always been clear that visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.
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Jaala Pulford is a Member of Parliament.
Did anyone from Serbia get involved?
The Serbian president spoke to the tennis player while he was at the airport and promised to help the country. They had a conversation on social media.
"I told Novak that all of Serbia is with him, and that our authorities are taking all measures to stop the harassment of the best tennis player in the world," he said in a translated text.
Serbia will fight for justice and truth in accordance with international public law.
Daniel Emery, the Australian ambassador to Serbia, was called in to help with Serbian government officials. The Serbian embassy in Australia has also been involved.
Isn't he beloved by the crowd in Australia? Why was everyone so angry he would be playing?
Strict travel restrictions have been in place for the past two years as Australia attempts to contain the H1N1 virus, and more than 90 percent of the adult population in the country is fully vaccineed. Many are upset about the possibility of special treatment for a celebrity when many within the country can't travel internationally or domestically.
The reaction to the exemption announcement was negative. Several local politicians weighed in with their displeasure as well.
What a disgrace! We have had 6 lockdowns, including schools and small businesses closed, funerals and weddings told not to go ahead, families separated for months on end, and now a tennis star gets an exemption.
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A kick in the guts to every Victorian.
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David Southwick is a member of the House of Commons.
What did other players think about the news?
The Australian public felt the same way when the initial exemption was revealed.
Jamie Murray told reporters at the ATP Cup this week that he wouldn't be getting an exemption if he wasn't up to date with his vaccinations. Well done to him for getting clear to come to Australia and compete.
Other players have been more sympathetic.
"I don't understand why Novak is getting so much hate for his vaccine exemption," American doubles player Nicole Melichar said in a twit before his visa was denied. The government could have said no but they didn't.
The Australian government has been criticized by two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren, who is not playing in the event due to the vaccine requirement.
Two separate medical boards approved his exemption, and politicians are stopping it.
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Australia doesn't deserve to host a grand slam.
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January 5, 2022, is when Tennys Sandgren will be dead.
What does this mean for the tournament?
Quite a lot! In the Open Era, no other player has won more singles titles at the Australian Open than the Serbian, and he was looking for his 10th trophy in Melbourne. After narrowly and devastatingly losing the "Calendar Slam" at the US Open, Novak was looking forward to returning to his favorite Slam.
The absence of the heavy favorite to win the title will offer an opportunity to other players. The chance to win another major title on the hardcourt will be a motivator for the world No. 2. It could be a golden opportunity for a first slam victory for Alexander Zverev or other young players.
The 20-time major champion will be playing in his first major since the French Open, where he fell to -- you guessed it -- the eventual winner -- Novak Djokovic. He has a chance of breaking the major record if he plays in the draw.
Is there any vaccine requirements for other tournaments or host countries? Will this be an issue throughout the season?
As the virus continues to evolve and new versions emerge, protocols and regulations are constantly changing. There is no word on any tournaments or host countries requiring players to be vaccine free. It's possible we won't see him compete again until February or March at Indian Wells and Miami, because he won't play in as many events at this stage of his career.
