Novak Djokovic is reportedly mulling a lawsuit against the Australian government.
According to The Sun, 34-year-old Djokovic was consulting his legal team about suing the country for $4.4 million, a fee that includes the $2.75 million prize the world’s best tennis player was expected to win.
It all started when Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 tennis player, was stopped at the Australian border and held in immigration detention earlier this month upon his arrival in Melbourne ahead of the 2022 Australian Open.
Djokovic is the nine-time winner of the Australian Open and was looking to defend his 2021 title.
A source close to Djokovic’s agent told The Sun:
“It’s well known that Novak and his family feel he was poorly treated in the quarantine hotel in Melbourne. His mother revealed how it was full of fleas and maggots. He was kept a virtual prisoner.”
Despite being unvaccinated against COVID-19, the star athlete had been granted a vaccine exemption by Tennis Australia, the country’s governing body for the sport, which allowed him to compete.
The exemption was also approved by the Victoria state government. However, the national government and the Australian Border Force threw a wrench into the situation when they refused to sponsor the Serb’s visa upon his arrival.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement:
“This cancellation decision was made on health, safety, and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so. I welcome the decision to keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe.”
The Age reported that Djokovic was deported Sunday evening on a flight to Dubai.
In response to the deportation, Djokovic said in a statement:
“I am extremely disappointed with the court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.”
“I respect the court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country. I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love.”
Djokovic first had his visa canceled on Thursday, January 6, by Australian authorities after he “failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia.”
Following a successful appeal of the Australian government’s decision to initially revoke his visa, Djokovic’s visa was canceled a second time on Friday over Australian Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke’s concerns for “civil unrest” in Australia due to Djokovic’s vaccination status.
Hawke said, according to The Guardian:
“I consider that Mr. Djokovic’s ongoing presence in Australia may lead to an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment generated in the Australian community, potentially leading to an increase in the civil unrest of the kind previously experienced in Australia with rallies and protests which may themselves be a source of community transmission.”
Read more of this story from DailyWire:
His lawyers challenged the decision by Australian authorities, and it emerged that Djokovic was granted the medical exemption due to recovering from COVID-19 in December 2021.
Now, Djokovic is in danger of being unable to defend his 2021 French Open title as well.
On Sunday, France approved a vaccine pass law that will require proof of vaccination in order to enter public places. This includes Roland-Garros, home of the French Open.
“The rule is simple. The vaccine pass will be imposed, as soon as the law is promulgated, in establishments that were already subject to the health pass,” the French Sports Ministry said according to Reuters.
“This will apply to everyone who is a spectator or a professional sportsperson,” the ministry continued. “And this until further notice.”
The ministry said that while things could change between now and the start of the French Open, there would be “no exemptions” to the vaccine requirement.
“Now, as far as Roland Garros is concerned, it’s in May,” the ministry added. “The situation may change between now and then and we hope that it will be more favourable. So we’ll see, but clearly there’s no exemption.”
The French Open will be played from May 22 to June 5.
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