“Novak Djokovic saw an opportunity to get an exemption, so he took it, you cannot blame him for that,”: Ons Jabeur
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Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic‘s decision to not get vaccinated and apply for an exemption to enter Australia for the upcoming 2022 Australian Open has become one of the biggest controversies in the sport with camps being formed in favour and against Djokovic’s decision to find a way to enter the country and play at the Slam where vaccination was made compulsory.
Djokovic’s failure to explain why he needed an exemption when interrogated by immigration officers at Melbourne airport led to him being detained at the airport and then in a federal quarantine centre as his lawyers won him the case in court that saw him get the visa as the court dismissed the government’s case and the player quickly resumed training for the Grand Slam.
Given Djokovic being unvaccinated and allowed to play, the decision has not gone well with the Australians and many of the players as well as the rules were made clear a while back itself. However, Tunisian No. 1 and World No. 10 Ons Jabeur believes otherwise and says Djokovic was well within his rights to use the opportunity that was made available by the tournament and the Australian government.
“I have the impression that some players blame him for coming, others don’t. I think we should respect his choice not to get vaccinated. If they didn’t want him to come, why give the exemption and everything else? I feel like it’s hard what’s happening to him; it’s a very, very tough situation.
I hope it’s not political like people say. I feel like he’s going to have a historic run this season, especially at the Australian Open, and he saw an opportunity to get a bye, so he took it, and we can’t blame him for that,” said Ons during her press conference defending the Serbian and shifting the blame on the Australian government for creating the mess.
Novak Djokovic will undergo another trial as his visa gets cancelled
Despite having won the case, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his power and cancelled Djokovic’s visa yet again and as expected the player’s lawyers have taken the legal way once again to challenge the decision and make all their efforts to make Djokovic play at the Grand Slam.
The case will have its hearing on 16th January, Sunday, a day prior to the first day of the 2022 Australian Open when the top-half of the players are set to play their respective matches including the top-seeded Djokovic who is scheduled to start against compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic. As for Ons, she will start against Spaniard Nuria Parrizas Diaz in the first round of the Slam.
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Sarthak Shitole
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