Novak Djokovic could be sent home from Australia over vaccine exemption

The Serbian world number one has been granted permission to play at the Australian Open but could still yet face problems

Australia’s prime minister has warned Novak Djokovic that he will be on the “next plane home” if his evidence for being exempted from Covid-19 vaccination rules is deemed insufficient.

World number one Djokovic is poised to defend his Australian Open title this month after tournament organisers prompted public outrage by granting him permission to play.

But the Serbian could yet face problems at the border as the country’s government has stated he requires “acceptable proof” that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, with prime minister Scott Morrison adamant the player will not receive any preferential treatment.

Reports have also emerged of visa complications for Djokovic ahead of his arrival in Melbourne.

Djokovic – a nine-time winner of the tournament and defending champion - has not spoken publicly about his vaccination status but last year said he was “opposed to vaccination”.

It remains unclear what qualifies the 34-year-old for exemption, and tournament director Craig Tiley has said it would be “helpful” for Djokovic to clarify his situation.

His hopes of competing could yet be scuppered by intervention from the federal government.

Prime minister Morrison told a media conference on Wednesday: “We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that. If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.”

More than 90 per cent of Australia’s over-16 population is fully vaccinated.

Morrison’s comments were echoed by a statement from Australia’s minister for home affairs Karen Andrews.

“Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our strict border requirements,” read her statement. “No individual competing at the Australian Open will be afforded any special treatment.”

The Australian Open is scheduled to begin on 17 January.

Tournament director Tiley had earlier revealed 26 unvaccinated players applied for exemption, with Djokovic among only a “handful” given the green light under guidelines set by federal regulators.

Having insisted the 20-time grand slam winner had not benefited from “special favour”, Tiley later urged the player to be transparent on the issue as public criticism increased.

“We completely understand and empathise that some would have been upset by the fact that Novak Djokovic has come in because of his statements around vaccination in the past couple of years,” Tiley told reporters.

There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.

Australian Prime Minster Scott Morrison

“We would love…Novak to talk about it and help us with it, but ultimately it’s going to be up to him. We aren’t in a position, even legally, to disclose other people’s medical information.”

Criteria listed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group as permissible reasons for a medical exemption range from acute major medical conditions to any serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

A possible explanation is that Djokovic has contracted coronavirus for a second time at some point in the past six months, having previously caught it during his much-criticised Adria Tour event in Belgrade in 2020.

That would negate the need for vaccination, according to rules published last year by one of two independent medical panels involved in the decision.

The build-up to the season’s first grand slam has been dominated by whether Djokovic would be involved.

Speculation was heightened after he pulled out of the Serbia team competing at the ATP Cup in Sydney without explanation.

On Tuesday, the 34-year-old Serbian posted on Instagram that he was “heading down under with an exemption permission”.

The news was later confirmed in a statement from the Australian Open.

The tournament provides Djokovic with another chance to move clear of rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with the three having each won 20 grand slam titles.

He was challenging for the calendar year grand slam in 2021 but fell short in the US Open final by losing to Daniil Medvedev, the man he beat in last year’s Australian Open final.