Who is being U, Australia or Novak Djokovic?

[inheritancetrack]

Me, I'm in the you can't have your cake and eat it Novak, camp!

Much as Novak is being a dick, I half want him to play just to see the crowd response.

If he hadn't been so up himself about it then there wouldn't be the same level of fuss. It's Australia's call, end of story.

Doesn't sound like he's winning friends with other players over this either although Federer seems to be very quiet on the matter (he's probably very glad he's taken time out tbh)

It's pretty sad though to see the usual gobshites online accusing other players of being state led sheep for not automatically saying "do whatever you want Novak". If people think getting vaccinated/mask wearing is a sign of tyranny they really need to get out more.

@sashagabadon lol. It's the Australian open. Who and by what power is going to 'take it off' Australia?

I reread your post in the voice of King George from Hamilton and it was brilliant.

@PlanktonsComputerWife who do you think is bestowing and revoking rights for countries to hold their own events?

If players don't like the conditions, then off they can fuck. No one is forcing them to come.

Why should everyday Australians shoulder greater Covid risk just so people like Djokovic can thumb their nose at health measures while pursuing titles for money and ego?

@Blinkingbatshit

I am completely pro vax and not a fan in any way of Djokovic but I think the Aus govt have behaved appallingly. We now know he had valid medical exemption that fulfilled the criteria required. The judge quite obviously could do nothing but release him - if he hadn’t it would make a complete mockery of the Rule of Law in Oz (though they govt have already happily made an absolute mockery of themselves). My hope is that Djokovic may use this experience to do some good and maybe campaign for better treatment of the refugees he was held with….you can but hope!!

We don't know anything about the validity of Djokovic's exemption as that is not what the court ruled on. All we know is that when the Australian border agency says they will give you are certain amount of time to seek advice they need to stick to that before making their decision or it is not considered "reasonable".

He got off on a technicality and nothing more.

He can still have his visa cancelled legally by the minister in any case (the nuclear option).

What I suspect may be happening is that Djokovic is now being given some time to withdraw of his own volition before the Aus government kick him out. Hence why the immigration minister is not making a decision right now.

Of course, this is a problem of the Australian Gov's, own making as they clearly tried to get him in via the back door hoping that no-one would notice and now have been forced to make a belated political stand to reduce the damage to themselves and the potential for disorder and protest at a flagship sporting event.

@sashagabadon

Have to agree Planktons. Australia should lose the right to host the open in the future if they cancel his visa now. At the very least Melbourne should. We could host it here in the U.K.! I know we have Wimbledon already but we have other venues. Problem is the weather at this time of year of course but it could be under cover.

This is by far one of the most ridiculous comments on the thread.

It's the Australian open. Which is held in Australia. Like the French open is in France and is subjected to French rules. The us open in the USA is subjects to USA rules.

They cannot "lose" the right to hold it. It's been known for some time about the tight regulations surrounding entry to the country due to covid. Players can either comply and enter or not.

So he either cheated the system by saying he had Covid when he didn't, or he played fast and loose with the health of others, by mixing - unmasked - with people after a positive test.

Not the sort of role model I'd want in sport - win at any cost, even if that includes cheating.

@sashagabadon

Have to agree Planktons. Australia should lose the right to host the open in the future if they cancel his visa now. At the very least Melbourne should. We could host it here in the U.K.! I know we have Wimbledon already but we have other venues. Problem is the weather at this time of year of course but it could be under cover.

The Australia Open is run by Tennis Australia, it can't be removed from them!

The Aus Open was a top class tennis tournament before Novak and it will be one long after him as well.

He is . How can you say to a country that only accepts those that have been vaccinated , he has had had covid so therefore exempt ? Australia should revoke his visa .

PlanktonsComputerWife who do you think is bestowing and revoking rights for countries to hold their own events? grin

I thought my meaning clear, but the Australian Open should have its status revoked as a major international circuit venue if it denies entry to the world #1. Somewhere else can be found to complete the Grand Slam, somewhere that treats players courteously and lawfully

His family are giving a press conference as I type.

His brother says...'we are very pleased that justice and truth have prevailed'

Ironic that Djokovic's lawyers have a 'no jab, no entry' policy for their offices.

And Nigel Farage has got in on this, the irrelevant man. He's with the family in Serbia.

I love Andy Murray for what he tweeted to Fartage..

"Please record the awkward moment when you tell them you’ve spent most of your career campaigning to have people from Eastern Europe deported."

He should be treated as anyone else would be.

If people choose to be unvaccinated, so be it, but they also choose anything attached to that choice.

Does Andy Murray think Serbia is in Eastern Europe? lol

I think using the words "justice" and "truth" together is hilarious considering ND seemingly broke the law if his covid test is real. If it's not real, then he did not tell the truth. Those 2 words are not compatible in this situation.

@PlanktonsComputerWife

Does Andy Murray think Serbia is in Eastern Europe? lol

Wikipedia says it is, is it relevant?

There was lots of talk in 2008 about moving the Australian open from Melbourne to New South Wales or even overseas. Sydney wanted to host it. To assume it will forever stay in Melbourne / Victoria is naive.
I doubt it would move overseas (that was a joke) but it could move to Sydney. Why not?

@PlanktonsComputerWife

Where is Serbia then, if it’s not in Eastern Europe?

Does Andy Murray think Serbia is in Eastern Europe? lol

Wait, do you think Serbia isn't in Eastern Europe? Lol.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7665088.stm

Sydney plans Australian Open bid.

It’s a contract to host it in Melbourne not an automatic right.
Don’t know when current contract expires but if I was Sydney I’d be considering a bid.

@ajandjjmum

So he either cheated the system by saying he had Covid when he didn't, or he played fast and loose with the health of others, by mixing - unmasked - with people after a positive test.

Not the sort of role model I'd want in sport - win at any cost, even if that includes cheating.

Totally agree - I'm also interested to know how he planned to enter the country before he got covid in December. Presumably he was planning the trip long before that.

So he either cheated the system by saying he had Covid when he didn't, or he played fast and loose with the health of others, by mixing - unmasked - with people after a positive test.

Not the sort of role model I'd want in sport - win at any cost, even if that includes cheating.

I agree with this as well. If he's wise he'll withdraw voluntarily.

@sashagabadon

There was lots of talk in 2008 about moving the Australian open from Melbourne to New South Wales or even overseas. Sydney wanted to host it. To assume it will forever stay in Melbourne / Victoria is naive. I doubt it would move overseas (that was a joke) but it could move to Sydney. Why not?

And how would that change the current situation?

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

So he either cheated the system by saying he had Covid when he didn't, or he played fast and loose with the health of others, by mixing - unmasked - with people after a positive test.

Not the sort of role model I'd want in sport - win at any cost, even if that includes cheating.

I agree with this as well. If he's wise he'll withdraw voluntarily.

It pretty much sums up Djokovic over the last few years. He's not a sportsman that I can respect. Can normally tell how he's playing by the number of medical timeouts he's requested.

Of course, Serbia is in Eastern Europe, where else is it?!

It's irrelevant... Murray's tweet could've read
"Please record the awkward moment when you tell them you’ve spent most of your career campaigning to have people from Eastern Europenot from Great Britain deported."

I'm more concerned about him gallivanting around Belgrade unmasked in the 2/3 days after his 'positive' PCR. It's all over his social media - events with politicians, local kids, photo shoots. Either he's an egotistical, irresponsible *rse or he's an egotistical, irresponsible selfish git. His lack of awareness of the lives of normal folk is quite extraordinary. I loathe the man.

I think his tweet of a photo from a tennis court was in poor taste and shows he's tone deaf to the controversy surrounding him. He's ignoring the positive covid result and his superspreader antics.