Novak Djokovic hopes to compete in the next Australian Open despite been kicked out of the country earlier this year due to his vaccination status.
Serbia tennis player Novak Djokovic hopes to compete in the next year’s Australian open despite facing re-entry ban.
The Serbian was deported from Australia earlier this year over his vaccination status and was unable to defend the title.
Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2021 but was unable to defend his Melbourne Park crown due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Djokovic lost his French Open title after he was defeated by Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals this year but retained his Wimbledon crown on Sunday.
As it stands Djokovic cannot enter the U.S. without being vaccinated against COVID, while his deportation from Australia carried with it a three-year re-entry ban.
“As things stand now, I cannot travel to Australia and the United States, but I am hoping to get positive news,” Djokovic told RTS after being greeted by thousands of fans in front of Belgrade City Hall.
“I believe things will change for Australian Open. For the U.S. Open there is not much time, but hope dies last. I would like to play at the U.S. Open and Australia Open, but even if I do not it’s not the end of the world.”
Former Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that when Djokovic was removed from Australia in January that his re-entry ban could be waived “in the right circumstances”.
However, the 35-year-old has won the last four editions of Wimbledon in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, with the 2020 tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is now one Grand Slam title behind record holder Nadal, who has won 22 majors.
