Novak Djokovic’s coach breaks the team’s silence after recent deportation fiasco

Novak Djokovic’s coach has broken the team’s silence on the world No 1’s “unjust and unhealthy” deportation from Australia and lifted the lid on the ‘horror hotel’.

Craig Tiley was booed during his post-match Sam Stosur tribute. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

Novak Djokovic’s coach Marian Vajda has broken the team’s silence on the world No 1’s “unjust and unhealthy” deportation from Australia.

Six days after Djokovic was unceremoniously booted out after having his visa cancelled for a second time, Vajda has lifted the lid on the “suffering and long term effects” the fiasco will have on the 34-year-old.

“I needed to calm down,” he told Sport Klub. “I still don’t understand why they did it to him.

“It was an unhealthy and unjust decision, based on the assumption that Djokovic could do or influence something that had not yet happened.

“I haven’t communicated with him since he arrived in Belgrade. It is clear that it hit him mentally, it will hurt him for a long time and it will be difficult to get it out of his head.”

Djokovic, well known for his anti-vax opinion, announced on January 4 via Instagram that he would travel to Melbourne with a medical exemption in a bid to win a 10th title and 21st slam.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia with coach

The news was met with public fury and confusion about how an unvaccinated individual could be granted permission to enter and compete given the strict rules and protocols enforced on tourists and citizens.

Upon arrival in Australia Djokovic was detained by Australian Border Force officers and subsequently moved to a detention facility where he remained for four nights while awaiting a court hearing.

Despite winning the initial showdown, Djokovic’s fate was when Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelled the visa for a second time on the basis his presence in Australia might risk “civil unrest” as he was a “talisman of anti-vaccination sentiment”.

“We wrote to each other, we never spoke to the phone,” Vajda said of the time Djokovic was in the immigration hotel. “He used his mobile phone a little. (I) can’t imagine how he handled it, it must have been a huge suffering.

“He humbly endured all measures, but what they did to him must mark him. It was a political process.”

Ahead of his deportation from Australia, Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” after the Federal Court unanimously upheld the cancellation of his visa on public order grounds.

He now faces a possible three-year ban from Australia, where he was won nine of his 20 Grand Slam titles -- a tally that equals the all-time record alongside Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Recent Covid vaccine mandates in France and America are likely to see Djokovic barred from the French and US Opens while Wimbledon remains uncertain.

Vajda however is adamant we have not seen the last of the Serb.

“I know him very well. Novak is strong, resolute and has not yet said his last word in tennis.”

TENNIS BOSS BREAKS SILENCE

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has not considered resigning in the wake of the Novak Djokovic visa fiasco.

Tiley, speaking for the first time since Djokovic was sensationally deported last Sunday night on the eve of the Australian Open, maintained that he is firmly focused on the year’s first major “and delivering a great event” and that stepping down from his role was not on his radar.

The tournament director made his first public appearance at the Open earlier on Thursday and was booed as he paid tribute to Australian champion Sam Stosur as she ended her singles career.

He also refuted claims made by former mayor John Locco that Tennis Australia had footed the bill for Djokovic’s legal battle, but dodged questions about the tennis body’s dealings with government.

“No (I have not considered resigning). I am proud of being able to stand up here and you can see what is behind us (at Melbourne Park),” Tiley said.

Craig Tiley addressed the issue of whether TA had paid Djokovic’s legal fees

“I am proud of what the team has done and what we have delivered so far. We have had four days of unbelievable tennis and great entertainment and we will have that for the next 10 days.”

It had been sensationally claimed this week that Tennis Australia had filled out all visa documentation for Djokovic’s arrival in Australia and that it had paid the unvaccinated Serbian’s hefty legal bill in his failed deportation fight against the federal government.

“I have seen those reports ... and we don’t really go into the detail of financial arrangements we have with players but those reports are simply untrue,” Tiley said.

In the interview, Tiley said that:

* He had “heard” talk that he had been less visible than in previous years, but said “intense work” behind the scenes had been his focus.

* It was too soon to tell whether he would do anything differently in hindsight, but that the entire tournament and situation would be reviewed following the event.

* He refused to consider whether Tennis Australia provided conflicting information regarding Djokovic, saying the organisation was “moving on, focusing on the event and delivering a great two weeks of tennis”.

“What we are going to put forward for Melburnians for the next 10 days and when we finish, it’s going to be an event that we look back and be proud of as far as everyone’s experience and the players’ experience as well,” he said.

Tiley said he believed tennis authorities had “already addressed those questions” surrounding whether either he or Tennis Australia had done anything outside of the guidelines provided to them by the federal and state governments.

Craig Tiley was booed during his post-match Sam Stosur tribute. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

“Today we’re just focusing on delivering Day 4 and a great event,” he maintained.

“You have seen how well the Aussies did today, as an example. The feedback we’re getting back from our fans onside of the time they are having is fantastic. So we look forward to another 10 days of great tennis, and at some point there will be two great champions.”

Stosur, who was lauded in her retirement from singles, said she hadn’t heard any boos while on court but said it was “maybe not the time or place for that”.

“It’s an unfortunate situation that unfolded obviously over the last few weeks,” Stosur said.

“I think now it’s behind us and that’s going to be a good thing.

“I think if everyone could go back and change things, they probably would. Hopefully nothing like that will ever happen again in the future.”