By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Novak Djokovic must provide Djokovic must "provide acceptable proof" of his medical reason for not taking the vaccine or get on the next plane home.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
A major challenger to Novak Djokovic's Australian Open reign is a power player without a single ATP ranking point.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a challenge to the world No. 1: come right or board the next flight.
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A day after the Australian Open announced Djokovic has received a medical exemption to play the Melbourne major starting on January 17th, backlash is brewing among some Aussies.
The state of Victoria, home to the city of Melbourne, reports a double-dose vaccination rate of 93 percent for residents over the age of 12. The Australian Open mandates all players are fully vaccinated or have an approved medical exemption to compete.
Critics say Djokovic's medical exemption is disrespectful to Victorian citizens who have served severe lockdowns during the Coronavirus pandemic and a case of a superstar playing the medical loophole card to subvert the safety system designed to protect all.
Prime Minister Morrison called on the nine-time Australian Open champion “provide acceptable proof” of why he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
“If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home,” Morrison told the media in Australia.
Initially, Djokovic faced a visa issue upon arrive in Australia.
Victoria Sports Minister Jaala Pulford tweeted the state was asked by the Australian federal government to support Djokovic's visa entry, a request she said was denied.
The 34-year-old Djokovic has declined to disclose if he's vaccinated and has staunchly opposed tournaments mandating vaccination for players. Djokovic was one of several players who contracted Coronavirus during his ill-fated Adria Tour in June of 2020.
The Adria Tour largely ignored pandemic safety protocol and came under criticism after video of some players dancing shirtless in a Belgrade night club hit the internet. Djokovic later apologized for the Adria Tour's lax safety protocol, but maintains vaccination status is a personal health issue he does not discuss.
Tennis Australia says the world No. 1's medical exemption was approved after rigorous review of two independent panels and is not the product of preferential star treatment.
"Fair and independent protocols were established for assessing medical exemption applications that will enable us to ensure Australian Open 2022 is safe and enjoyable for everyone," said TA CEO Craig Tiley in a statement. "Central to this process was that the decisions were made by independent medical experts and that every applicant was given due consideration.”
Former doubles world No. 1 Jamie Murray detects a double standard in Djokovic's exemption. Jamie Muray suggests the star system is at work saying "if it was me that wasn't vaccinated I wouldn't be getting an exemption."
"I mean, you know, I think if it was me that wasn't vaccinated I wouldn't be getting an exemption," Jamie Murray told the media after Great Britain's ATP Cup loss to Canada on Tuesday. "You know, but well done to him for getting clear to come to Australia and compete."