Leaked video shows Tennis Australia boss address Djokovic scandal

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has spoken about the Novak Djokovic affair in a leaked internal video sent to staff members.

Tennis Australia (TA) boss Craig Tiley has addressed the Novak Djokovic controversy in an internal video, saying the organisation has “done an unbelievable job” in getting everything together for this month’s grand slam.

All the talk is about what’s happening off the court after an unvaccinated Djokovic had his visa cancelled and was refused entry into Australia. Despite TA confirming the world No. 1 had received a medical exemption to compete without being fully jabbed, he was turned away at the border.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Australian Border Force said Djokovic did not provide sufficient evidence to justify his vaccination exemption and he’s now stuck in a Melbourne hotel waiting for his legal team to argue the matter in court on Monday.

TA, the federal government and Victorian government have come under fire for their handling of the situation. Confusion has reigned over the understanding of what criteria needed to be met to receive a medical exemption and all parties have been accused of bungling their communication or using Djokovic as a political football.

Speaking to TA staff in an internal video message, obtained exclusively by the Herald Sun, Tiley said the governing body was in a “very difficult” spot but would reveal more information when the time is right.

Djokovic and Tiley have developed a close relationship over the years. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“Unfortunately over the last couple of days, there’s been a circumstance that relates to a couple of players, Novak particularly, and (we are) in a situation that is very difficult,” Tiley said.

“We’re a player-first event, we empathise with the situation we currently have and are working closely with Novak and his team, and others and their team, that are in this situation.

“I want to assure you that we are in a position where we would like to share with you all the information, and we will. We’ve chosen at this point not to be very public with it and simply because there is a pending lawsuit related to entry into Australia for a few. Once that has run its course, we’ll be able to share more with you.

“There’s a lot of finger pointing going on and a lot of blaming going on, but I can assure you our team has done an unbelievable job and have done everything they possibly could according to all the instructions that they have been provided.”

Tiley added: “We’re going through a difficult time in the public arena right now (but) we’ll pull through it, we’ll get out on the other side.”

Djokovic isn’t the only unvaccinated player to be struck down by visa issues. On Friday night it emerged Czech doubles star Renata Voracova also had her visa cancelled for the same reason as Djokovic and was being detained by Border Force officials at the Park Hotel.

That was despite the 38-year-old world No. 80 doubles player having already been allowed into the country and even playing an Australian Open warm-up event in Melbourne.

TA is under scrutiny after The Herald Sun revealed the governing body told unvaccinated players they were eligible to enter the country for the Australian Open with an exemption if they had caught Covid within the last six months.

That is despite the Federal Government informing Tennis Australia prior infections were not covered in its guidelines for medical exemptions. Letters from Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt sent to TA in November allegedly show the governing body was aware of this caveat before giving players advice.

Djokovic sent a message to his supporters as he waits to see whether he is successful in overturning the federal government’s decision to deport him.

“Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated,” he wrote on Instagram.

Aussie Nick Kyrgios has thrown his support behind Djokovic, saying the way he has been treated during this process is inhumane.

“For the sport, we need him here … I just want it to end,” Kyrgios told reporters on Saturday. “I’m feeling for him now, it’s not really humane what’s going on.

“If he’s allowed to play the Australian Open, I don’t want any bar of him. I reckon he’s going to be p***ed off.

“He’s going to be very determined to play well and stick it to everyone of what’s going on. And I don’t want any bar of that Novak.

“I feel he’s helped us as well. Like during the bushfires, he was supportive, he was helping us out.

“We are so quick to forget … or the media is so quick to forget or so quick to jump on things like this and forget he’s actually helped us.

“I don’t forget that. I just feel … like I could use this as a publicity stunt. I could just agree with the general person and say, ‘Yeah, this isn’t good’ and use it. But I don’t think that’s right. That’s why I’m using my platform now to say we’ve got to do better, we have to do better.”