‘No right to be here’: Angry tennis stars turn on ‘selfish’ Novak Djokovic

As the Novak Djokovic saga drags on, fellow players have taken aim at the Serbian and a former world No. 1 wants questions answered.

Not everyone in the locker room is supporting Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Former world No. 1 Andy Murray has declared there are “a few questions to be answered” by Novak Djokovic and urged him to come clean ahead of the Australian Open as other players take aim at the Serbian star.

Murray won his first match in Australia in three years on Tuesday night at the Sydney Classic but had to deal with questions about Djokovic, who is yet to get the official green light to compete at Melbourne Park next week.

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After being placed in a Melbourne detention hotel last week, Djokovic was freed on Monday after the Federal Circuit Court overturned the decision to cancel his visa. However, Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke still has the power to deport the 20-time grand slam champion.

Djokovic received an exemption to bypass hotel quarantine to defend his Australian Open crown on the basis he had tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16. But photos have since emerged of the Serb, who isn’t vaccinated, attending various functions after his positive result was confirmed.

Portuguese star Joao Sousa was critical of Djokovic for trying to skirt the 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. It’s tough for us players to accept that,” Sousa said.

“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.”

World No. 38 Marton Fucsovics took a shot at the 20-time grand slam champion too this week.

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

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

Marton Fucsovics has little sympathy for Djokovic. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Djokovic will be hoping to finally let his tennis do the talking. (Photo by Kelly Defina / POOL / AFP)

Murray wants Djokovic to come clean so his fellow players don’t have to answer any more questions.

“I mean, obviously, it‘s positive that he’s not in detention anymore. Obviously, he won in court, so that‘s a positive thing for him. Hopefully, (he) will be able to concentrate on the tennis now,” Murray said.

“There are still a few questions that need to be answered around the isolation and stuff, which I‘m sure we’ll hear from him in the next few days, but I’m obviously here to try and play and win tournaments.

“Like I said, it’s the first match that I have played here 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 talking about situations like that. So I‘m hoping that we can move on from it now.

“He won in court, which is good. Looks like he’s going to be able to play and compete in the Australian Open, which we do want the best players there, but like I said, I think there is still a few questions to be answered.

“Until that happens, tough to give a definitive opinion on everything. But like I said, positive that he‘s out and practising.”

Murray said he was “sure” Djokovic would talk before the Australian Open, where he is the top seed and favourite to win a 10th title, and he needed to be honest.

“I’m sure he will. It’s up to the press to ask about that and for Novak to clarify,” he said.

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

Andy Murray wants to talk about his tennis. Picture: David Gray / AFP

Meanwhile, Djokovic’s mother Dijana says the world No. 1 “didn’t know” he had Covid-19 in the days after his swab returned a positive result last month as she opened up about her son’s ordeal.

Speaking exclusively to Channel 7’s Sunrise on Wednesday morning, Dijana was asked if the world No. 1 was aware he’d been infected with the virus for a second time in December, after photos showed him out and about in the community while he was Covid-positive.

He reportedly attended an awards ceremony at the Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, where multiple photos on social media show the 34-year-old posing for photos with children without wearing a mask.

French newspaper L’Équipe also revealed Djokovic posed without a mask during a photo shoot on December 18.

“He didn’t know, probably. He didn’t know,” Dijana said when asked by Sunrise host Matt Shirvington if Djokovic knowingly mingled with members of the public while positive.

“Because when he realised that he is positive then he goes to isolate, into isolation. Because he didn’t know.”

However, Dijana then added: “I really cannot say anything about that, maybe the best is to ask him.”