Novak Djokovicwho is preparing to participate in the Australian Open, said this Thursday in the ocean country that last year’s deportation for not being vaccinated against covid-19 was “hard to digest”.
“What happened 12 months ago is not easy to swallow (at) the momentDjokovic said in a press conference in Adelaide, broadcast on Channel Nine, and before his participation in a tournament before the first Grand Slam of the season.
The tennis player, who was held in a hotel in Melbourne for several days in January this year, emphasized that this kind of situation is remembered throughout life, although he pointed out that it was an “important learning experience” .
“At the same time, I had to move on and that event and those circumstances will not replace what I have experienced in Melbourne (then) and in Australia throughout my career.“added the nine-time Australian Open winner and looking for his twenty-second Grand in this edition.
“It was obviously disappointing to leave the country like that. It’s a country where I’ve had tremendous success in my career, especially in Melbourne.Djokovic told the media.
After that controversial incident that gained international media attention, the world number five continues to prove that it feels good to be back in Australia, a country with which he has strong ties and where he hopes to “have another great (austral) summer.”
Djokovic, one of the favorites to win the Australian Open which starts on January 16, arrived early in the ocean nation. -Tuesday night- to reach his best form for the tournament, the Serb assured.
“It was a challenge to go to Australia because of the time zone (and therefore) I did something different and arrived earlier than usual. The goal is to reach the top (of playing) in Melbourne: that’s where I want to play the best,” stressed Djokovic.
A MEDIA DEPORTATION
In January 2022, Djokovic, aiming to defend his center in Melbourne, He was detained by immigration police upon arrival in Australia for questioning the validity of his medical waiver, which said he had recently overcome covid-19and ordered his deportation for violating anti-pandemic measures.
At the beginning of the year, the maritime country requires travelers who wish to enter the country to have a complete covid-19 vaccine schedule or a valid receipt.
The athlete, who was detained in a hotel guarded by Immigration, appealed the authorities’ decision but after a bitter legal battle, the full Australian Federal Court found that the player’s presence in the country posed a risk to public health and order.
Authorities deported Djokovic hours before the 2022 Australian Open and imposed a three-year entry ban, a move the legal team was able to overturn in November, arguing that the ocean nation had lifted all restrictions due to the pandemic.
The Djokovic scandal comes at a time when Australia is facing a significant increase in covid-19 cases. to progressively reopen its borders in November 2021, after nearly two years of strict closure.
Source: La Verdad
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