Novak Djokovic inquiry to be launched as Australian Open chief tables regret

Djokovic arrives back In Serbia after deportation from Australia

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Australian Open boss has addressed the Novak Djokovic visa fiasco and insisted it has not damaged the reputation of Tennis Australia. The world No 1 was deported from the country on the eve of the tournament after having his visa cancelled for a second time, having arrived in Melbourne unvaccinated with a medical exemption granted by Tennis Australia. Craig Tiley has now shared his regrets over the situation.

Djokovic became the centre of an 11-day controversy when he arrived in Melbourne unvaccinated with a medical exemption given to him by Tennis Australia, and had his visa cancelled at the border.

He later won an appeal to have it reinstated after the federal government conceded they were unfair in failing to give him more time to prove his exemption, but having freely been allowed out into Melbourne had his visa cancelled again by the Immigration Minister.

The world No 1 lost his Federal Court appeal on the day before the Australian Open began as the judges agreed with Alex Hawke’s reasoning that Djokovic’s presence could “excite anti-vax sentiment” and left the country the night before he was due to begin his title defence.

Tournament director and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley has now opened up on his “regret”, having previously confirmed he would not step down from his role in the wake of the fiasco.

JUST IN: Rafael Nadal given advice by Lindsay Davenport after Aus Open win

“In the lead-in there was meticulous planning,” the Aussie Open boss told Reuters on Tuesday, defending his team’s preparations going into the event.

“The one major challenge around the Djokovic situation doesn’t define everything that went on because 99.999% of everything was good.

“It has been very challenging and we’re delivering an event in the middle of a very infectious strain. The tennis has been awesome. It’s going to be a really good finish.”

But the CEO of Tennis Australia admitted he was unhappy that the saga had taken away from the tennis.

DON’T MISS
Nadal explains why he called trainer during Shapovalov Aus Open win
Kyrgios fever taking grip at Aus Open as home hero picked over Nadal
Nadal overcomes two issues to Denis Shapovalov and reach Aus Open semi

He continued: “I do have a regret and the regret I have is actually different.

“The regret is the distraction that this whole scenario in this challenging environment created.

“We had over 500 players that were here, were ready to play and wanted the focus back on the tennis and wanted the focus to go back on them. We all wanted to move on and put that behind us so we can focus on the tennis.”

And Tiley doubled-down on comments made earlier in the tournament, confirming a review would take place at the conclusion of the Aussie Open.

“Of course there’s going to be lessons that we can learn but we do that every year,” he added.

“We do a full review after the event which we’ll do again this year. We’ll see what we did well, we’ll see what we could improve as we plan to 2023.”

Having previously confirmed that he believes Djokovic will return to the tournament in 2023, Tiley took a shot at the world No 1 as he said the tournament was bigger than its nine-time champion, taking the focus away from the Serb.

“Nobody is bigger than the event and everyone needs to realise that,” he said.

“The event has done extremely well under these circumstances. In fact, we’re enjoying record-breaking audiences in broadcast.”

Source: Read Full Article