Novak, you may be No.1. But even you are not above the rules
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Serb Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 1-ranked men’s tennis player, was deported from Australia on Sunday as the season’s first Grand Slam got under way, after a two-week furor over his vaccination status.
A three-judge panel unanimously approved Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa, upsetting his supporters, including senior politicians at home.
For tennis fans, that’s a huge miss. But for neutrals, the verdict was very clear — play by the rules. And the rules clearly state whatever your status, an unvaccinated player cannot enter the country without is a valid medical reason.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made it abundantly clear: “Rules are rules. No one is above these rules.”
That said, the Australian government has also come under fire and has to share some of the blame. Why was the Serb allowed to board the plane in the first place?
For his part, Djokovic has squandered much of the sympathy of fans over his ill-concealed disdain for anti-pandemic restrictions.
Top players follow a strict routine and diet to maintain their bodies, and Djokovic may well have been (ill)-advised against vaccination. But it was obvious that there would be consequences, especially with his constant travel.
Apart from his notorious stance against vaccination, Djokovic also admitted to breaking COVID-19 isolation rules after testing positive. Immediately after he tested positive, he was seen attending events and doing interviews on December 17 and 18. He was also guilty of lying on his travel declaration form, for which he apologized later.
If anything, in a matter of such importance, a top player should play an exemplary role in following the law, especially when infections are surging in Australia’s two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria.
The Serb has achieved great success on the court through sheer grit and determination, but he clearly got it wrong in Australia. When it comes to public health issues, there can be no compromise.
It is unclear what will happen next in the Djokovic saga. The French Open is the next Grand Slam, on Sunday, and the government has made it clear there will be no vaccination exemptions.
The big loser is the Australian Open, without its top seed and attraction. But fellow player Rafael Nadal got it right: “There is no player in history that is more important than an event.”
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