Novak Djokovic: world’s media blasts Australian Open drama
The growing diplomatic dispute over Novak Djokovic has been labelled as politically motivated and compared to our bitter submarine fallout with France.
World
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Serbian media has blasted the ‘political war being waged on the sidelines’ in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, with their tennis superstar Novak Djokovic caught in the middle.
In a front-page story, the popular Danas leans on quotes from Czech star Renata Voracova in editorialising that Djokovic “came to play tennis and not resolve internal Australian disputes”.
Voracova has reportedly suffered a similar fate as Novak Djokovic after her visa was cancelled and she was detained in the same hotel as the Serbian World No. 1.
“On the one hand, this happened to me because of Novak. And I don’t think I’m the only one,” she said.
According to reports, Voracova was granted a visa before having it revoked.
The media in her native country was scathing of the incident. The top selling DNES, described the situation as ‘monstrous’.
In an interview with DNES, Voracova said she felt like she was being held ‘in a prison” while the publication described the situation, the doubles star and Djokovic found themselves in as a ‘witch hunt’.
Voracova said in the interview, she wasn’t necessarily against vaccinations but said she had been too busy to get jabbed and then caught the virus.
Meanwhile in the US, the world epi centre of political battles over the virus, and mask and vax mandates, the highly influential Washington Post’s front page blazed: ‘Novak Djokovic is not a criminal’: Serbia and Australia trade volleys as tennis star remains held in hotel.
The article mentions allegations of Djokovic being ‘lured’ to Australia and being the target of a ‘witch hunt’ and also protests in support of the star in Melbourne.
According to the Post, the Djokovic saga and “the deepening diplomatic dispute echoes the public falling-out between Australia and France last year over a cancelled $67 billion submarine deal and has been pounced upon by Morrison’s opponents ahead of an election this year”.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC BREAKS HIS SILENCE
Tennis ace Novak Djokovic has spoken out from immigration detention to thank his supporters as he waits to find out if he will be deported from Australia.
The world No. 1 Serbian tennis player, who has been held since Wednesday after he refused entry into the country to compete in the Australian Open, posted two short, temporary videos on his Instagram stories overnight.
The first one featured an image of a baby Jesus with the caption: “God’s peace. Christ is born. Happy Christmas. May God’s love invigorate and fulfil you all” to mark Christmas Day in the Orthodox tradition today.
“Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated,’ he wrote in the second frame.
Djokovic is being held in a Melbourne hotel used for immigration detainees after his visa was deemed invalid by border officials who said he didn’t qualify for a Covid vaccine medical exemption.
After receiving a medical exemption assigned to unvaccinated participants attending the Open as per instructions sent to players via Tennis Australia, Djokovic was blocked by the Victorian government — overseeing and hosting the event. Australia’s border force detained Djokovic after he failed to provide enough documentation on his medical status.
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