Djokovic told he has "no right" to be in Australia by Wimbledon quarter-finalist

01/11/2022

Novak Djokovic has ‘no right’ to be in Australia and compete in the Australian Open, according to Wimbledon quarter-finalist Marton Fucsovics.

The Hungarian world number 38 lost to Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals as well as the Paris Masters in November. Fucsovics insisted the news that the world number one had received an exemption was poorly received by many players.

He claims it is unfair that Djokovic could play in the Gram Slam despite not being vaccinated – and the 29-year-old is not the only one.

“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 told Hungarian outlet M4Sport.

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

His comments come amid reports the Australian Border Force is investigating Djokovic following concerns he incorrectly declared he had not travelled – and would not do so for two weeks – prior to his flight to Australia.

Social media posts appear to show the Serb in Belgrade on Christmas Day before flying Down Under from Spain on January 4.

The declaration is accompanied with a warning that giving false or misleading information is a ‘serious offence’, also punishable by civil penalties.

A Twitter post by a Portuguese tennis reporter, Jose Morgado, appears to show Djokovic was in Belgrade at Christmas, posing with the handball star Petar Djordjic.

Djokovic arrived in the country to compete in the opening grand slam of the season only for border guards to reject his documents and place him in detention.

Officials ruled the 34-year-old did not meet the exemption criteria whereby all non-Australians had to be fully vaccinated against Covid.

Following the Serb’s successful appeal on Monday, the Australian government agreed to revoke their decision to cancel his visa.

However, Djokovic’s fate will be decided by immigration minister Alex Hawke, who can personally intervene and decide to cancel his visa anyway – which would see Djokovic banned from Australia for three years.

Hawke would have to be satisfied with the grounds for cancellation of Djokovic’s visa, such as a threat to public safety, and that cancellation was in the public interest.

Such a decision would likely be met by a legal challenge from Djokovic, as well as a request for an injunction to stay out of immigration detention so that he could play in the Australian Open.

Djokovic is eyeing a record 10th Australian Open title, while he could move clear of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam wins – the most men’s major singles title in history.

Australian Open qualifying began on January 10, with the full tournament kicking off a week later and concluding on January 30.

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