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A protester in front of the hotel in Melbourne: Novak Djoković is staying in the quarantine hotel for the time being
Photo:
LOREN ELLIOTT / REUTERS
The words Novak Djoković used to address the public for the first time on Friday afternoon after landing in Melbourne weren't exactly meaningful. But at least after days of silence he went public. He thanks "people all over the world for their continued support," wrote Djoković after midnight (local time) on Instagram. "I can feel it, and I really appreciate it."
After his landing on Wednesday and the rejection of his visa by the Australian authorities, a statement from the tennis world number one was expected. Djoković was accommodated in a hotel for those obliged to leave the country, where rejected asylum seekers were also waiting to leave. And since Friday also the Czech tennis player Renata Voracova, whose visa was also revoked by the Australian authorities.
People protested again in front of the hotel on Friday, if not only for Djoković: some posters against the long-term accommodation of refugees in the complex could be seen. “Refugees are welcome, Djoković is not” read a poster. Hundreds of people took to the streets in the Serbian capital Belgrade, his family spoke of a “prison” and compared Djoković to Jesus on the cross. The Australian government was not intimidated by this.
The Australian Interior Minister Karen Andrews replied dryly on Friday: “Mr Djoković is not being held in Australia, he is free to leave at any time.
(...) The border guards would also help him. «Djoković had indeed been issued a visa.
But the border authorities found after arriving in Melbourne that he did not meet the entry requirements because Djoković was not fully vaccinated.
But not only in Australia and Serbia is the short-term fate of the superstar being talked about.
Djoković's former coach Boris Becker wrote in a guest article for the Daily Mail about a mistake that threatened what remained of his career;
who threatened the chance to immortalize himself as the best player in history.
Chase after the sole record
Djoković actually planned to become the sole most successful player in history in Australia: With 20 Grand Slams won, he is currently on par with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who are much more popular among fans, but whose best sporting days seem to be over.
Especially with his favorite major, Djoković has already won nine times in Melbourne, the chance of the big triumph seemed to be the greatest so far.
A decision as to whether he will get the chance at the Grand Slam starting on January 17th will probably not be made until Monday.
Djoković filed a lawsuit against the decision of the authorities, the competent court postponed a decision.
If a title defense and the record do not work out in Melbourne, it could succeed in Paris from the end of May when the French Open are played.
The French sports minister Roxane Maracineanu invited Djoković to a certain extent to Roland Garros - even without a vaccination: Djoković will have to follow different regulations than those who have been vaccinated, but will still be able to compete, she said.
hba / dpa / sid / Reuters
