Novak Djokovic has been denied entry into Australia after causing outrage when he claimed to have a vaccine exemption in order to compete in the Australian Open - and now people are mocking the tennis star with memes.
Hoping to defend his title, the 34-year-old had travelled Down Under and claimed he had received a medical exemption from Covid-19 vaccination rules to compete in the tournament.
Australia has undergone some of the longest Covid lockdowns on record, and is still under heavy travel restrictions in the country, despite a high vaccine uptake (90 per cent aged over 16 are fully vaccinated), Australians were understandably enraged at Djokovic’s exemption.
Happy New Year! Wishing you all health, love & joy in every moment & may you feel love & respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet.
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 4, 2022
I’ve spent fantastic quality time with loved ones over break & today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022! pic.twitter.com/e688iSO2d4
Players like Djokovic who sought a medical exemption had to undergo two assessments by medical panels by Tennis Australia and Victoria state. But this exemption did not suffice with Australia’s notoriously rigorous border control officers held Djokovic at Melbourne airport for several hours before it was decided to cancel his visa.
According to PA, the grounds for Djokovic’s medical exemption have not been made public and that Djokovic had not applied for a visa that allows exemptions for unvaccinated people.
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But Djokovic is now challenging the decision made by Australia’s Borce Force and his appeal has been adjourned until 10am on Monday in Melbourne, court officials said and so he will remain in Melbourne until then.
Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 5, 2022
Upon this news, people on Twitter couldn’t help but mock Djokovic for being denied the country with some fitting memes on the situation.
Message to Novak Djokovic pic.twitter.com/U5Jv35IIoJ
— Ian Ford (@ij_ford) January 5, 2022
Novak Djokovic's tennis shoes finding out they won't be participating in the Australian Open. pic.twitter.com/jRY5CT3CeF
— Nick Walker (@nickw84) January 5, 2022
Novak covid more like 😉😂 😂😂
— alistair green (@mralistairgreen) January 5, 2022
More like NoVax Djokovic, right? pic.twitter.com/AFhawOCe8C
— Greg Evans (@gregzeene) January 5, 2022
“Wait a minute, this isn’t sufficient evidence for an exemption” pic.twitter.com/yotb7Wy6CQ
— Greg Johnson (@gregianjohnson) January 5, 2022
https://t.co/UHLL8iBkid pic.twitter.com/fAKoYb0MqU
— Alex Hess (@A_Hess) January 5, 2022
This may be Djokovic’s greatest return.
— Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) January 5, 2022
Novak Djokovic supporters take to the streets of Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/7lAXrLaVsI
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) January 5, 2022
Airline RyanAir even took the time to mock the tennis player by using an image of Hawk-Eye declaring the ball is out - much like it’s been decided that Djokovic heading out of Australia.
Unlucky @DjokerNole Flight home? pic.twitter.com/D8mpNq4jEB
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) January 5, 2022
While people find his predicament pretty amusing.
The important thing to remember about Novak Djokovic being denied entry to Australia after spending a day in the airport thinking he was more important than everyone else is that it is incredibly funny.
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) January 5, 2022
Someone else joked about what the reaction would be from other tennis stars such as Rodger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Nadal himself recently commented on Djokovic’s situation the BBC reported, “I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem,” he said.
“He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences.
“Of course I don’t like the situation that is happening. In some way, I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision,” the Spanish player added.
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) January 5, 2022
Although it remains unclear if he is vaccinated or not, the world number one has previously spoken out against Covid vaccines during a live Facebook chat, The Guardian reported.
In April 2020 he said: “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.”
In a statement, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced the news and was clear that there would be no exceptions to the rules:
“Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.”
We’ll have to wait and see on Monday (January 10) if Djokovic can get the decision overturned and compete in the tournament which commences on January 17, to try and win a record 21st grand slam title and the Australian Open for a 10th time.
