A year on, Novak Djokovic stands vindicated before the Australian Open
Follow Us
Novak Djokovic
On January 6, 20022, Novak Djokovic landed in Melbourne, favorite for winning the title at the Australian Open. What followed in the next 10 days was chaos, where the champion was subjected to harsh treatment, mostly not due to his own faults. Eventually, on January 16, 2022, the highest court of law canceled his visa and the numero uno was deported.
It seems like yesterday, but the trauma began exactly a year ago. The case was high profile, no doubt. The “no vaccine” thing was well known but it was the visa department and the Australian Border Force which had messed up, big time, in 2022. Images of the champion, a nine-time winner at AO making his way out of the Tullamarine airport in Melbourne on a long flight back to Serbia on January 16 was sad to watch.
He was hunted and hounded, so to say. At that time, it seemed, being an anti-vaxxer was dangerous. Who knew, then, so many more Aussies would be known for their anti-vaccine stance. There are still many more anti-vax blokes Down Under. They are fine and roaming around in their country, though, if they want to leave the borders of Australia, they will need the jabs.
Aussies have been racial and maintained double standards. They have made differentiation on color and subjected people to racial slurs, with the case of an Indian journalist now settled there in the news. Bharat Sundaresan, in his own words, has been treated as a second-class citizen by the Aussies at cricket venues despite valid media credentials. This is the way the Aussies behave as if they are original Whites.
Visa cancellation and deportation was wrong for Novak Djokovic in 2022 as so many anti-vaxxers are there Down Under
The point is, Australia as a nation is ashamed of how it behaved with Novak Djokovic last year. He was kept in detention in a hell hole of a hotel. That was not needed as he was no national security risk. Agreed, Down Under, there was a strong Covid wave in 2022 and their wanting a zero-Covid situation was unrealistic. Looking back, to have snubbed Djokovic and painted him a villain was wrong.
One year, yes, exactly one year hence, Djokovic is Down Under, welcomed by the Aussies. He is not being ostracised, so to say. The Covid 19 virus has evolved and today even if as a visitor you land in Australia and test positive, all hell does not break loose. See, how things have changed in the last 365 days.
The man with a voracious appetite for titles will look forward to performing once again at the Rod Laver arena.
His stock has gone up and he knows he will have to wear the favorite tag, again. Honestly, pressure has never affected Djokovic. He has been inert to it. Had he played in the 2022 Australian Open, he may have been heckled. No, not today. Today he is the hero, the king who waits to be crowned champion again at a venue where he won nine times.
The beginning has been good this time. He has been welcomed, as of Australia is atoning for its sins of the past — a year ago. There is a lot riding on Djokovic, from a tennis point of view as well as commercially. For the success of the season’s first Grand Slam, the Serb going the full distance will be important. On paper, Djokovic looks the firm favorite for the 2023 Australian Open.
However, there is many a slip between the cup and lip. What’s important today is Australia as a nation and its citizens were wrong to hate Novak Djokovic in 2022. Australia needs him more than he needs Australia for his own survival and presence. Has he become bigger than the sport? Not really, but he has ensured the Aussies have had to eat humble pie!
Incase you missed it:
Emma Raducanu breaks down mid-match as fresh injury puts 2023 Australian Open in jeopardy
Stay Updated!
S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)