Andy Murray says the uncertainty over Novak Djokovic‘s situation ahead of the Australian Open is ‘really bad’ for tennis and claims the scenario has ‘shocked’ the athletes.
Djokovic travelled to Australia with a medical exemption from getting the Covid-19 vaccine, as his team claim he tested positive in a PCR test on December 16.
However, upon arriving in the country the tennis star was ordered to leave due to issues with the exemption on the visa which he applied for, which has prompted a legal battle against his deportation.
Andy Murray says the uncertainty over Novak Djokovic’s situation ahead of the Australian Open is ‘really bad’ for tennis and claims the scenario has ‘shocked’ the athletes
Murray says he has not yet spoken to the nine-time Australian Open champion but expressed his sympathy for what he is going through.
Speaking ahead of the Australian Open, Murray told reporters in Melbourne: ‘I think everyone is shocked by it to be honest. I’m going to say two things on it just now.
‘The first thing is that I hope that Novak is OK. I know him well, and I’ve always had a good relationship with him and I hope that he’s OK.
‘It’s really not good for tennis at all, and I don’t think it’s good for anyone involved.’
Following his arrival into Australia, Djokovic was sent to a deportation hotel in Melbourne for refugees and asylum seekers.
Djokovic travelled to Australia with a medical exemption from getting the Covid-19 vaccine. However, upon arriving in the country the tennis star was ordered to leave
There will be a court hearing on Monday to determine whether he is deported from Australia
The tennis icon will have his case heard on Monday and his fans are eager to do their bit to help. His supporters in Serbia have been seen gathering in large numbers to protest his treatment in Melbourne.
Djokovic’s legal team claimed in recent days that he was subjected to an eight-hour ordeal in which airport security refused to let him sleep, denied him time to speak to his lawyers and unlawfully cancelled his visa.
Djokovic was said to be ‘shocked and confused’ by the remarkable scenes that unfolded overnight in Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport on January 6-7, with the Serbian insisting he had complied with all the authorities’ requirements for entering the country.
Djokovic fan waves a Serbia flag in support of tennis star inside Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
His lawyers claim that the border security staff made a ‘mischievous and spurious’ attempt to rush Djokovic into agreeing to the cancellation of his visa, thus preventing him from competing in next week’s Australian Open.
Djokovic will be eager to iron out the issue as he is looking to eclipse Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal with his 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne later this month.
More to follow…
