Stefanos Tsitsipas says Novak Djokovic has been playing by his own rules

Stefanos Tsitsipas has called out Novak Djokovic, saying the world No. 1 has been playing by his own rules and put the Australian Open at risk.

Novak Djokovic had put the Australian Open at risk and made other tennis players “look like fools” after travelling to Australia unvaccinated, world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas said Thursday.

The Serbian world number one, top seed and defending champion is looking to secure a 10th Australian Open title at Melbourne Park and an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam crown.

But the vaccine-sceptic’s fate remains uncertain with Australia’s government pondering whether to revoke his visa again and throw him out of the country for breaking Covid protocols.

“For sure he has been playing by his own rules,” Tsitsipas said in an interview with Indian broadcaster WION.

Novak Djokovic trained on rod Laver Arena on Thursday. Picture: AFP Images

“It takes a lot of daring to do and (is) putting a Grand Slam at risk … I don’t think many players would do that.” Tsitsipas, who lost to Djokovic in last year’s French Open final, said nearly everyone at the Melbourne tournament had been vaccinated.

Others, he said, “chose to follow their own way which kind of makes the majority look like they’re all fools.”

Djokovic flew into Melbourne airport on January 5 carrying a vaccine exemption because of a claimed positive PCR test result on December 16.

Border agents rejected his exemption, saying a recent infection was an insufficient justification, tore up his visa and placed him in a detention centre.

But Djokovic’s high-powered legal team overturned the visa decision in court on Monday on a procedural matter related to his airport interview.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday no decision had been made on whether to revoke Djokovic’s visa a second time.

Djokovic was nonetheless included in the first round draw of the Australian Open the same day.

Even if he is allowed to stay, there are questions over his preparations and fitness for the gruelling two-week tournament after he was forced to spend four nights in the detention facility.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic after last year’s French Open. Picture: Getty Images

‘DON’T ASK’: BANNED QUESTION FROM DJOKER’S Covid INTERVIEW

The French journalist who interviewed Novak Djokovic without knowing that the men’s world number one had tested positive for coronavirus said he was told not to ask him about vaccination for the virus.

Franck Ramella from L’Equipe sports daily spoke with the men’s world number one in Belgrade on December 18, two days after the date Djokovic has stated he tested positive for Covid-19.

Ramella wrote: “The instructions were clear — no questions about vaccination.” The journalist said the topic was clearly “very sensitive”.

“So we didn’t ask him if he had made efforts to get tested. If we had asked him, what would have been the point?”

Writing in the paper on Tuesday, Ramella said the L’Equipe photographer asked Djokovic to remove his mask for five minutes during the interview, but he refused.

Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. Picture: AFP Images

The player did later pose without a mask for a photo.

Ramella said he only learned “three weeks later” that Djokovic had tested positive but that he himself had tested negative after the interview.

Djokovic admitted on Wednesday he had made an “error of judgment” in going ahead with the interview.

“I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L’Equipe interview as I didn’t want to let the journalist down but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken,” Djokovic said.

“On reflection, this was an error of judgment and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.”

Djokovic made the admission in an Instagram post about his movements before he travelled to Australia, where he is hoping to take part in the Australian Open from Monday.

The Serbian star, who has admitted he is not vaccinated, flew into Melbourne a week ago claiming a vaccine exemption because of a positive PCR test result on December 16.

But border officials rejected his exemption saying a recent infection was an insufficient justification for an exemption, cancelled his visa and placed him in a detention centre.

Although Djokovic overturned that decision on a technicality on Monday, he is facing possible deportation from Australia if the country’s immigration minister decides he has provided false information on his visa form.

Djokovic says his agent filled in a form which stated he had not travelled in the 14 days before his arrival, after it emerged he flew from Belgrade to Marbella in Spain during the two weeks before leaving for Melbourne.

Djokovic’s failure to divulge his Covid-positive status to L’Equipe was described as “deeply concerning” by the International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA).

“As journalists, we take great care to adhere to all Covid-19 rules in place, and we would expect all players to do the same,” an ITWA statement read.

It went on to note pointedly that journalists travelling to Melbourne for the Australian Open “have to be fully vaccinated”.

Novak Djokovic posing for a photo after his L’Equipe interview. Source: Twitter/@BenRothenberg

AUSSIE GREAT SLAMS SHOCKING DETAIL IN DJOKOVIC STATEMENT

The Novak Djokovic saga has a new twist, with fellow players starting to turn on the ‘selfish’ world No. 1 amid accusations of favourable treatment over his anti-vaccination stance.

The controversial star poured even more fuel on the fire that has engulfed the lead up to the Australian Open after releasing a statement on Instagram.

Instead of clarifying the “misinformation” around his alleged breaking of Covid rules, Djokovic admitted to lying on his declaration of entry into the country.

But Aussie tennis icon Rennae Stubbs pointed to another glaring statement in Djokovic’s Instagram post that positive test dates revealed he knew he had Covid when doing a face-to-face interview with a journalist.

Stubbs tweeted: “Wait, SO Novak is now admitting that he knowingly decided to do an interview with someone because he didn’t want to let the journalist down? but yet had NO PROBLEM being Covid positive around the guy and also didn’t tell him!!??? OMG this is getting worse by the minute!”

Wait, SO Novak is now admitting that he knowingly decided to do an interview with someone because he didn’t want to let the journalist down? but yet had NO PROBLEM being Covid positive around the guy and also didn’t tell him!!??? OMG this is getting worse by the minute!

— Rennae Stubbs OLY (@rennaestubbs) January 12, 2022

The revelation only adds to the backlash the star is facing from his peers.

British great Andy Murray called on Djokovic to come clean over the outstanding questions relating to his botched visa documentation, while Portugal’s Joao Sousa spoke out on the double standards that have allowed the defending champion to “find a way around (anti-vaccination) rules”.

“I respect that he fights for what he believes and I can be empathetic with what he is going through in Australia, but it’s a bit selfish from him to arrive here as the only player unvaccinated,” Sousa said.

“It’s tough for us players to accept that.

“Many players – not my case – didn’t want to get vaccinated and were forced to do it to be able to play tournaments. He is finding a way around those rules.”

João Sousa on the Djokovic saga. "I respect that he fights for what he believes and I can be empathetic with what he is going through in Australia, but it's a bit selfish from him to arrive here as the only player unvaccinated. It's tough for us players to accept that".

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 11, 2022

Sousa joined Wimbledon quarter-finalist Marton Fuscovics in publicly questioning Djokovic’s ‘right’ to play at the Australian Open ahead of next week’s tournament.

Fuscovics, speaking with Hungary’s M4Sport challenged Djokovic’s non-vaccination decision and argued that the health and safety of players was the most important aspect in this debate.

“People’s health is paramount, and there are rules that were outlined months ago, namely that everyone should vaccinate themselves – and Djokovic didn’t,” he said.

“From this point of view, I don’t think he would have the right to be here.”

Earlier, three-time grand slam champion Murray also hinted at a growing frustration among the playing group at the Djokovic visa debacle – and the questionable timelines around his positive Covid test and whether he was correctly isolating.

Djokovic is alleged to have tested positive on December 16, but was pictured at an awards ceremony at the Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, where an unmasked Djokovic posted for pictures with children.

“I think there is still a few questions that need to be answered around the isolation, which I’m sure we’ll hear from him (on) in the next few days,” Murray said.

Hungary's Marton Fuscovics has publicly questioned Djokovic’s ‘right’ to play at the Australian Open. Picture: AFP

“It looks like he’s going to be able to play and compete in the Australian Open (and) we do want the best players there, but I think there is still a few questions to be answered.

“It’s up to, obviously, the press to ask about that, and obviously for Novak to clarify.

“Let’s wait to see what he says on that.

“I’m obviously here to try and play and win tournaments.

“It’s the first match that I have played (at the Sydney International) or won here in over three years and this is where the situations like this are frustrating for players because I want to come off and talk about my tennis and what’s happening there, not talk about situations like that.

“So I’m hoping that we can move on from it now.”

Andy Murray wants answers – and for the Djokovic saga to end. Picture: AFP

NOVAK DJOKOVIC COVID SAGA TIMELINE

2020

APRIL

Djokovic makes clear his stance that he’s publicly opposed to vaccination, and “wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel”.

JUNE

He’s roundly criticised for organising his own tournament, the Adria Tour – which is cut short when he and other players,  including Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, test positive to Covid-19.

2021

OCTOBER

Victorian authorities confirm that all professional athletes must be double-vaccinated to gain entry into Australia.

DECEMBER

December 10

The deadline for a medical exemption to be submitted to Tennis Australia passes.

December 14

Djokovic attends a basketball match in Belgrade where numerous people subsequently test positive for Covid-19.

December 16

An important day. Djokovic claims to test negative on a Rapid Antigen Test, while also taking a PCR test – the results of which are reportedly returned at 8.19pm. Under Serbian rules, Djokovic’s 14-day self-isolation begins. Earlier, he attends an event to launch a new stamp with his picture on it.

December 17

Djokovic is pictured at an awards ceremony at the Novak Tennis Academy in Belgrade, where he mingles with children. An asymptomatic Djokovic says he returned a negative RAT test prior to the event, and didn’t learn of his positive PCR test result until later.

December 18

Conducts a 33-minute interview with French newspaper L'Equipe in Belgrade, posing maskless in a photoshoot – a decision he says as “an error in judgment”. Returns home to complete the required isolation. Later, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic says if Djokovic attended events while positive he had “clearly violated the rules”.

December 22

Returns a negative Covid-19 PCR test in Belgrade.

December 25

Having cleared isolation following his negative test, Djokovic is filmed pictured separately with handball player Petar Djordjic in Belgrade.

December 30

Djokovic is granted permission by Tennis Australia to play the Australian Open

December 31

Djokovic is spotted training on hardcourts in Marbella, Spain, in a clue that he’s deep in preparations for the Australian Open.

2022

January 1

Djokovic’s Australian Travel Declaration is completed – by his agent, he later claims. In it, he declares he’s had no travel in the prior 14 days and that he is unvaccinated against Covid-19 but has a medical exemption.

January 4

Reveals on Instagram he has received "exemption permission" to enter Australia.

January 6

Arrives in Melbourne and is sensationally detained and interviewed by border officials, with his visa cancelled.

January 10

Djokovic has a huge win in Federal Court, winning his appeal against deportation with Judge Kelly throwing out Djokovic’s visa cancellation. Later, he enjoys a midnight training session at Rod Laver Arena. Meanwhile, a press conference with Djokovic’s family comes to a sudden end after they refuse to clarify Djokovic’s movements in relation to his December 16 positive result.

January 11

A free man, Djokovic takes to Rod Laver Arena for a closed practice session.

January 12

Djokovic moves to dispel ‘misinformation’ in a lengthy Instagram post as his legal team provides further evidence to support his case – prompting another 24-hour delay in decision-making by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

January 14

Djokovic has his visa cancelled for a second time, as Immigration Minister Alex Hawke invoked his discretionary powers. Djokovic launches appeal.

January 16

Djokovic's appeal to Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's decision to cancel the Serbia star's Australian visa is upheld. The world no.1 is deported and leaves the country on a plane to Dubai.

Originally published as Stefanos Tsitsipas says Novak Djokovic has been playing by his own rules