Novak Djokovic apologised after ‘boneheaded’ tennis decision: ‘We were wrong’
Novak Djokovic: Martina Navratilova addresses situation
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Novak Djokovic has travelled to his home country Serbia after being deported from Australia. He was seen boarding an Emirates flight bound for Dubai from Melbourne just hours after a court ruling in which three judges in Australia upheld the government’s cancellation of his visa. The decision capped a two-week drama over his decision not to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
The world number one was hoping to compete in the Australian Open, of which the first round started today.
Djokovic has received widespread criticism after he was pictured maskless at a public event after testing positive for COVID-19.
This isn’t the first time Djokovic has come under fire during the pandemic.
Australian star Nick Kyrgios branded the Serbian star “boneheaded” after he took part in a tennis tournament in June 2020.
Djokovic and other players competed in the Adria Tour in the Balkans.
Another player, Borna Coric, announced he had tested positive on Twitter.
Kyrgios condemned the players who took part, responding: “(Facepalm emojis) Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition.’
“Speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE.”
Djokovic later apologised for taking part in the tournament.
He said: “Everything the organisers and I did the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions.
“We believed the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good condition to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons.
“We were wrong and it was too soon. I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this and every case of infection.”
Doubts surrounding Djokovic’s ability to take part in tournaments have swirled since the start of the pandemic.
In April 2020, he said he is opposed to the vaccine.
Explaining why, he said: “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.
“But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.
“I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.
“Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet.”
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Andy Murray said the recent situation in Australia has not been good for tennis.
He told BBC Sport last week: “It is not great for the tournament because it is better when all of the top players are playing in the event.
“Novak is someone I have known since we were 12 years old, he is someone who I respect and have competed against. I don’t like [that] he is in this situation and I don’t like [that] he has been in detention.
“The situation has not been good all round for anyone. It feels everything here happened extremely last minute and that’s why it became such a mess.
“Hopefully that won’t be the case at other events so there is no other situation like this.
“I wouldn’t want that for Novak, don’t want that for tennis and hopefully it is done now.”
Meanwhile, Kyrgios has taken a more sympathetic approach with Djokovic this time round, criticising the way Australian authorities have dealt with him.
Kyrgios said: “Look I definitely believe in taking action, I got vaccinated because of others and for my mum’s health, but how we are handling Novak’s situation is bad, really bad.
“Like these memes, headlines, this is one of our great champions but at the end of the day, he is human. Do better.”
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