Novak Djokovic went home on Monday after being denied the opportunity to defend his Australian Open title, only to find himself in a new predicament: if he hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, he could be disqualified from the French Open this year as well.
A plane carrying the world’s No.1 player landed in Serbia, bringing the first chapter of a whirlwind tale with parallels in elite sports, Australia’s pandemic politics, and the contentious argument over coronavirus vaccines to a close.
At Belgrade’s airport, he was greeted by a small group of fans waving the Serbian flag. Djokovic has a near-iconic standing in Serbia, and many people there believe he was treated unfairly by Australia.
But his struggles may not be done yet: a new regulation aimed at keeping unvaccinated people out of stadiums and other public areas could prevent him from competing in the French Open this year. Much could happen between now and the start of the Grand Slam tournament in late May, but it raised the possibility that the recent saga in Australia would be more than a blip, and that the athlete, who is increasingly being held up as a hero by the anti-vaccine movement, would face an ongoing challenge.
Christophe Castaner, a member of the French Parliament, stated that the new regulation will apply to anybody who wants to compete in the French Open, reversing previous plans to construct a “bubble” around the tournament.
However, other aspects of the regulation are still being worked out, such as how it would treat persons like Djokovic who have recently recovered from COVID-19. The question is how recent the infection must be in order to qualify for a vaccine exemption. There will be no exceptions to the ban until further notice, according to the French sports minister.
Djokovic is the defending Wimbledon champion, which starts in late June. However, England has so far granted visiting athletes exemptions from different coronavirus laws if they stay in their accommodations when not participating or practicing. The United States Tennis Association, which oversees the US Open, has stated that it will adhere to government immunization requirements.
It’s also unknown when Djokovic will return to Australia. Deportation can result in a three-year prohibition on returning to the nation, though depending on the circumstances, this can be removed.
For the time being, Djokovic will be greeted with open arms in Serbia, where his closest family resides. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused Australia of “harassing” top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic and encouraged him to return home.
“God bless you, Novak,” read one of the banners hoisted by admirers as he was hurried through passport control and customs before being brought to his Belgrade flat by his brother Djordje.
Because he had recently recovered from COVID-19, Djokovic was granted an exemption to tight vaccination regulations by two medical panels and the tournament organizer in order to play in the Australian Open. Through an automatic system, he was granted a visa to enter the nation. However, when he arrived, border officials informed him that the exemption was no longer valid and that he would be deported.
The news that the star had been granted the exemption prompted outrage in Australia, where tight city lockdowns and foreign travel restrictions have been in place since the outbreak began to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
More than 95% of the Top 100 men’s and women’s tennis players in their respective tours have been vaccinated. Due to immunization requirements, at least two additional men — American Tennys Sandgren and Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert — did not compete in the Australian Open.
Djokovic’s visa was eventually withdrawn by Australian officials, who claimed that his presence could incite anti-vaccine sentiment and that sending him out was required to keep Australians safe. He was deported on Sunday, one day before the competition in Melbourne began.
Djokovic has won nine titles at the tournament in the past. He had hoped to win his 21st Grand Slam singles title this year, breaking a tie with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most in men’s tennis history. While Federer is recovering from an injury, Nadal is still participating.
As the legal struggle in Australia raged on, Djokovic admitted to an interview with journalists from the L’Equipe newspaper in Belgrade in December after testing positive for the coronavirus. He later described this as an error of judgment.
When asked if Djokovic would suffer any consequences if he returned to Serbia while diseased, Serbian officials indicated he would not because the country is not under a state of emergency.
In Serbia, Djokovic is a national hero, with the country’s president calling the court hearing in Australia “a circus full of lies.”
“Welcome home, Novak,” said Snezana Jankovic, a Belgrade resident. “You know that we all support you here.” “They can take your visa away from you, but they can’t remove your Serbian pride.”
