Djokovic was not given the chance to fight for his reputation in Melbourne after being expelled from Australia due to a vaccination issue – he didn’t get vaccinated for Covid properly. Additionally, he received a 3-year visa ban after that. Following a standout year in which the Serb won three Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic was predicted to return in 2022.
The issues with the US visa
But in 2022, Djokovic had to deal with unusual difficulties. After an incident at the Australian Open, he missed the final competition for the same reason: he was restricted from going to the United States, where he was to compete on the hard courts. While waiting for a visa to attend the 2023 Australian Open, Djokovic claims that many masks were removed during the 2022 trials. But the main issue was still vaccination and the difference in the way he and the authorities view the problem.
The reaction from the sportsman
He stated that he knows that all the things that happened to him in 2022, especially Australia and all that happened afterwards and the way he got treated, which he doesn’t like and which he had never faced earlier, has taught him several valuable life morals. In the interview to Sportal, he continued with the topic and explained that he became aware of the kind of world he got to inhabit, particularly in light of the tennis industry. It’s fascinating to see how people have interacted with him in 2022 because it’s like a lot of masks have been lifted.
Djokovic, nevertheless, acknowledged he didn’t mean to comment on the behavior of those who criticized his position on the Covid-2020 immunization, stating that he respected that everybody has a unique view of his position. Last but not least, he had never made anything to sound rude or to insult anyone. The value of having the freedom to express your opinion and your thoughts is really important for society and the right to make their own decisions is something he has always tried to convey. He understood that every choice he had made led to consequences.
