Let’s call a spade a spade. Claims that Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is being held captive or being harassed by the Australian authorities are utter rubbish.
Djokovic had flown into Melbourne last week to defend his title as the champion of the Australian Open, but was stopped by border officials when they learned that he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a requirement for entry into Australia.
He was detained at Melbourne airport for several hours before the authorities revoked his visa because had not met immigration regulations and said he would be deported.
Feeling perhaps that he was a big shot who was above the law, Djokovic contested the authorities’ decision to deny him entry and his lawyers are challenging the deportation order in Australia’s Federal Circuit Court.
As his case was heard, Djokovic was held at a hotel used to detain undocumented immigrants, many of whom complain about “disgusting” conditions, including maggots and moldy food, medical neglect, mistreatment and lack of hygiene.
This led to complaints by his family and Serbian government officials that the tennis star was being held prisoner.
“Novak Djokovic is not a criminal, terrorist nor illegal immigrant, but he has been treated as such by the Australian authorities, which understandably triggers the indignation of his supporters and Serbian citizens,” Serbia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry’s state secretary, Nemanja Starovic, spoke to the Australian ambassador to demand that Djokovic be transferred to “adequate accommodation for a sportsman of his caliber” while awaiting the court decision, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered a more compelling argument.
“On the issue of Mr. Djokovic, rules are rules and there are no special cases,” Morrison said. “That is the policy of the government, and it has been our government’s strong border protection policies and particularly in relation to the pandemic that has ensured that Australia has had one of the lowest death rates from COVID anywhere in the world. Entry with a visa requires double vaccination or a medical exemption. I am advised that such an exemption was not in place and as a result he is subject to the same rule as anyone else.”
The tennis star’s lawyers did him no favor when they pointed out that a COVID-19 infection in December entitled him to an exemption, something that does not hold true in Australia.
Moreover, because of the kerfuffle in Melbourne, we now know that Djokovic, who is a vocal opponent of vaccine mandates, had tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 16, then the very next day attended a public tennis event in Serbia, when he handed over cups and awards to the best players in 2021. Photos from that event showed Djokovic posing with federation officials and some 20 young players holding cups and awards—none of them wearing a mask.
The Australian government was correct in keeping an arrogant person who thinks nothing of endangering others out of their country. It is their prerogative and it is their right.
Alas, the court did not think so. It ruled Monday in the tennis star’s favor, saying he could remain in Australia. Reports say it is not yet known whether he would participate in the Australian Open or would face more legal challenges from the government.
Djokovic and his supporters should know that in some parts of the world, rules still matter—and not even sports superstars should feel entitled to bend them to their will.