Novak Djokovic free to contest Australian Open as three-year ban overturned
Novak Djokovic has been cleared to play at the next year’s Australian Open, with his three-year ban from entering the country set to be overturned.
Djokovic had his visa cancelled and was deported on the eve of this year’s tournament after coming into Australia while not vaccinated against COVID-19.
With the vaccine mandate no longer an obstacle to the 21-time grand slam champion’s participation, Djokovic’s lawyers were able to negotiate with Australian officials to have his visa ban overturned.
Speaking to reporters after winning his opening match at the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday night (AEDT), Djokovic said an agreement had not been reached.
“Nothing official yet,” he said.
“We are waiting. They are communicating with the government of Australia. That’s all I can tell you for now.”
With the competition kicking off on January 16, the delay was hardly ideal for the former world No.1, but speaking earlier Tuesday, Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley was confident that Djokovic would feature in next year’s Open.
“There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing,” he told AAP.
“I don’t think there should be any preferential treatment for anyone.
“But I fully expect to have an answer for everyone by the time they need to book their flights and come in, including Novak.
“That’s entirely up to the Australian government. I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.
“He loves Australia and it’s where he’s had the best success but the timing [on any announcement] is up to somebody else and we’ll just play that one by ear.”
Tiley was caught in the middle of last summer’s fiasco after informing Djokovic that he had secured a medical exemption to play at Melbourne Park.
This was subsequently overturned as then-immigration minister Alex Hawke intervened to boot Djokovic out of Australia.
Despite the situation, Tiley said Djokovic holds no hard feelings towards him.
“It’s funny. I’ve spoken to Novak a few times. We caught up and spent some time together in London and he’s fine. Our relationship is fine,” he said.
“He played the Laver Cup and it was really nice to be able to spend some private time with him.
“I want to have all the best players in the world here.”
Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(4) in the opening round of the ATP Finals.
The Tsitsipas defeat means the injured Carlos Alcaraz will end 2022 at the top of the ATP rankings unless Rafael Nadal, who also lost his opening match, can rebound to win the tournament.
