By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday January 11, 2022
Renata Voracova, the 38-year-old Czech who was swept up and detained at the same hotel as Novak Djokovic last week after it was learned that she had entered the country on the same type of vaccination exemption as the Serb, wants to be compensated by Tennis Australia.
Voracova, who left Australia on Saturday, said she is still too exhausted mentally to even pick up her racquet back home in the Czech Republic.
"The air ticket alone cost 60,000 Czech crowns ($2,780) and my coach travelled with me. And then there is all that time, hotels, training for the Grand Slam, the potential prize money,” Voracova said.
"I hope Tennis Australia will face up to it and that we won't have to take legal steps," added Voracova, who said she had no appetite for tennis since landing in Prague on Monday. "I'm not thinking about tennis. I'm still waking up from the shock, I haven't processed it yet. I'm exhausted.”
When Djokovic’s visa imbroglio became a hot button issue in Australia, the country elected to track down Voracova, who had entered the country before the new year, seemingly slipping through the cracks of a border patrol that hadn't yet keyed in.
Voracova even played a tournament in Melbourne before she was taken in, her visa cancelled after the fact.
"I didn't expect that in the darkest dream, it was just too much," she said.
The WTA also released a statement on behalf of Voracova on Tuesday.
“The complications experienced over the past few days where athletes have followed the approved and authorized process of receiving a medical exemption for entry into the country are unfortunate,” it read. “Renata Voracova followed these rules and procedures, was cleared for entry upon her arrival, competed in an event and then suddenly had her visa cancelled when she had done nothing wrong.
“We will continue to work with all authorities on addressing this unfortunate situation in an appropriate manner.”
The Professional Players Tennis Association – short for PTPA – released a statement condemning Australia’s treatment of the Czech as well.
“It was a traumatic and confusing experience for her and she is now potentially facing a three-year ban and other visa issues,” the statement read, before indicating that the PTPA has been in constant contact with her to ensure her welfare and understand her case better.