Novak Djokovic continues to get the cold shoulder as the Serb’s Australian Open ban is ignored at the recent ITF meet: Reports
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Kelly Fairweather, CEO of ITF and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic‘s fate at the 2023 Australian Open remains a doubt. With fans having hopes that the Kelly Fairweather-led ITF in their today’s meeting scheduled in Glasgow will discuss the issue, the tennis governing body has disappointed massively. Djokovic currently remains banned from entering Australia until 2024.
Djokovic’s visit to Melbourne was a total failure this year. Having received a medical clearance from the Australian government’s medical committee, Djokovic despite his unvaccinated status against Covid-19, made the trip to Melbourne with eyes set on his 10th title in Melbourne Park and record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.
Following two legal battles, Djokovic was deported from the country on the eve of his first-round match. While his visa was canceled, he was also banned for 3 years, and under the current circumstance, he remains banned from entering the country, let alone playing at the Grand Slam.
With many hopes from the latest meeting of ITF, as per reports, the topic was not even mentioned during the meeting. With ITF the governing body for the Grand Slams, their silence on the matter is quite surprising given the global situation with respect to Covid-19 has improved as compared to what it was this year.
Novak Djokovic’s fate looks to be in the hands of Tennis Australia
Djokovic’s absence in next year’s Australian Open could now be only due to ITF’s cowardice. With ITF the defacto bosses of the Grand Slams, their intervention, and support towards the Serbian would have surely helped his cause for playing next year.
The 21-time major winner was one of the most unluckiest players this year. After the ban from Australia, he was already informed of no entry into the USA as well ruling him out of the 2022 US Open. While unvaccinated Americans were allowed at the Flushing Meadows, the Serb was not allowed.
While he managed to win the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, it did not help him in the rankings. The decision by ATP and WTA to withdraw all ranking points due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, saw Djokovic slip down to World No. 7 in the rankings despite winning the major.
With 3 Grand Slam titles last year and a runner-up finish in the US Open, Djokovic was the hot favorite to win the Australian Open this year and become the first man to win 21 majors. Instead, close rival Rafael Nadal won the title and achieved the feat.
With ITF keeping itself out of the issue, it seems Djokovic’s entry into Australia now resides in the hands of Craig Tiley led Tennis Australia and of course the Australian government. While there has been a change of government in Australia after this year’s fiasco in Melbourne Park, Djokovic has remained a political tool for either party.
Scott Morrison-led government used Djokovic’s unvaccinated status to prove their agenda of controlling the Covid situation. The new government under PM Anthony Albanese has however used the Serb to discredit their predecessor and try to keep themselves in the power for near future.
The 2023 Australian Open starts on 16th January giving Djokovic and the Australian government roughly 2 months to decide their most successful champion’s participation for next year. Djokovic has remained hopeful but it seems it would need more than hopes and wishes for the Serb to step on the Rod Laver Arena once again.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)