Tennis Australia says it won’t lobby on Novak Djokovic’s behalf to get the nine-time Australian Open champion into the country for January’s Australian Open.
The Serbian former world No.1 was deported from Australia on the eve of this year’s event after the Australian government ultimately decided that he may have disrupted civil order and undermined the nation’s pandemic response.
Novak Djokovic would like to return to the Australian Open in 2023.Credit:AP
Djokovic, who is unvaccinated against COVID-19 and also missed this year’s US Open, is subject to a three-year ban from entering the country. But he can apply for exemption with the matter to be considered by the new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles.
Tournament boss Craig Tiley stressed it was a matter between the federal Labor government and Djokovic’s team.
“What we’re saying at this point is that Novak and the federal government need to work out the situation. And then we’ll follow any instruction after that,” Tiley said at Wednesday’s Australian Open launch.
“I did spend some time with Novak at the Laver Cup.
“We spoke generally. He said that he’d obviously love to come back to Australia but he knows it’s going to be an ultimate decision for the federal government.
“He’s accepted that position. It’s a private matter between them.
“We’d like to welcome Novak back – he’s a nine-time champion.”
More to come
