Good news for Novak Djokovic fans as change in COVID-19 scenario raises hope for his 2023 Australian Open return
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Novak Djokovic
Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic has received a positive hint towards his 2023 Australian Open return. Tournament director Craig Tiley signaled a relaxation in vaccination requirements because of “a very different environment with people travelling freely around the world.”
Djokovic had to face a big share of public controversies in the recent past. In early 2022, the 21-time Grand Slam champion was booted out of Melbourne due to Australia’s anti-vaccine laws. It resulted in a lot of worldwide debate as the Serb had initially landed in Australia claiming that he had an exemption from Tennis Australia, only to be rejected later by Australia’s Supreme Court.
During court hearings, the Serb was reportedly detained in sub-standard conditions at a hotel. He was deported from Melbourne a day before the Australian Open began.
Craig Tiley thought treatment meted out to Novak Djokovic was “unfair”
Before the 2022 Australian Open, Tiley had come forward to say how things were unfair for Djokovic considering his medical information was private and confidential.
However, now, with the COVID-19 world scenario totally different, Tiley thinks the Serb won’t have to go through the same situation.
“We are at a different point in time now than we were nine months ago and I think it’s a very different environment with people travelling freely around the world and we hope to have all the best players here in January,” said the tournament director.
Tiley had earlier also supported Djokovic. “In many ways, it was a bit unfair to Novak. He said his medical information was private and confidential. He’s won the Australian Open nine times, which is truly remarkable. Of his 20 Grand Slam titles, almost half have been won here. I spent a lot of time with him. I fully understand his point of view, his medical situation is personal and he has the right to keep it to himself. He will unveil shortly this position,” Tiley had said in an interview with CODE in December 2021.
It’s still left to be seen what the final situation will be for Djokovic at the 2023 Australian Open but the world scenario sure is different this time around!
Also Read: Novak Djokovic’s heartwarming tribute leaves Roger Federer emotional
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Ashish Maggo
(191 Articles Published)