Crazy Austrailia Approves, Detains, Deports World Tennis Champ Novak Djokovic
Australia's federal treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, confirmed in an interview on Monday that tennis star Novak Djokovic received a valid entry visa in early January, but claimed a "computer" was responsible for the error.
Australian Border Force deported Djokovic on Sunday Melbourne time after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke proclaimed him a public health threat for not having agreed to ingest a Chinese coronavirus vaccine product. Hawke expelled Djokovic after a federal court ruled his visa valid and Djokovic spent much of last week practicing to play in the Australian Open tennis tournament, which began on Monday.
Authorities had initially detained Djokovic upon his arrival on the grounds that the medical exemption he had received to play in the tournament was mysteriously invalid. Djokovic later admitted to giving the Australian government false information regarding previous travel on the plane to Melbourne, but Hawke did not mention that fact in the government's order for Djokovic to leave.
Djokovic arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, on Monday. He is the reigning Australian Open champion and has won the tournament more than any other player. He also, for now, maintains his number-one ranking in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
Photo Credit Flickr Creator: Peter Menzel