Djokovic was deported from Australia late on Sunday after the Federal Court upheld Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel his visa. The World No. 1 chose not to challenge the decision and made his way back home.
The Serb committed a few errors on his part. These include failing to oversee the incorrect details filled in on his travel declaration form and attending public events while infected with COVID-19 back in December.
Many have squared the blame on the Federal Government and Tennis Australia for granting Djokovic a visa and medical exemption in the first place. They have also been criticized for not offering the defending champion and fans enough clarity on exemption rules.
Having said that, some reckon the entire mess could have been avoided if Djokovic had gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 like many of his peers. And while speaking on Tennis Channel, Martina Navratilova seemed to be hinting at that very point.
Had the nine-time champion been vaccinated, the need for a medical exemption would never have arisen, as well as all the trouble that followed. This is likely why Navratilova feels the Serb being unvaccinated was the root cause of all his troubles.
“It’s been sickening to watch” - Lindsay Davenport on the Novak Djokovic saga
Lindsay Davenport also gave her two cents on the issue while appearing alongside Navratilova on Tennis Channel.
The former Australian Open champion began by pointing out how the Melbourne Slam has transcended from one of the most glorious events to a tournament filled with chaos.
The former World No. 1 highlighted how the tournament has been a “mess” in the past couple of editions due to stringent COVID restrictions. Davenport believes that Djokovic, Tennis Australia, and the Federal government are all to blame for the situation.
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