The decision to deport Novak Djokovic from Australia was "unhealthy and unjust," according to the player's coach, who condemned the handling of his situation as "a political process."
Djokovic, 34, was denied entry to Melbourne and therefore missed his chance to win a fourth straight Australian Open crown (his 10th overall) after his 'medical exemption' didn't meet government criteria.
The unvaccinated world No. 1 has since returned to his native Serbia and remained largely quiet on the matter, except for a statement in which he said he was "extremely disappointed" with Australia's ruling.
Marian Vajda was first hired as Djokovic's coach in 2006 and has worked alongside the 20-time Grand Slam winner almost throughout his career since then, save for a break between 2017 and 2018.
The Slovak, who has helped oversee Nole's rise from teenage prospect to record-breaking talent, told Sport Klub : “I still don’t understand why they did it to him. It was an unhealthy and unjust decision, based on the assumption that Djokovic could do or influence something that has not yet happened.
“I haven’t communicated with him since he arrived in Belgrade. It is clear that that it hit him mentally, it will hurt him for a long time and it will be difficult to get it out of his head.
“We wrote to each other, we haven’t spoken over the phone. He used his mobile phone a little. I can't imagine how he handled it, it must have been a huge suffering. He humbly endured all measures, but what they did to him must mark him. It was a political process.”
It's possible the Australian Open will set a precedent for what's expected of elite players at major competitions, not to mention the authority organisations can exercise against even the best in the sport.
Australian documents provided the first definitive proof that Djokovic is yet to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and it's believed Wimbledon, the French Open and U.S. Open could follow suit in enforcing bans.
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Djokovic and his entourage will feel the current landscape is particularly punishing given he needs to win just one more Grand Slam title to break the all-time men's major record.
“I don't understand and I don't understand why it's important for them to announce this now about the tournaments that will take place in May, when the world doesn't even know what will happen to the pandemic in a month," Vajda added.
“I know him very well. Novak is strong, resolute and has not yet said his last word in tennis.”
Letters leaked just prior to the Australian Open showed organisers were reminded as early as November that any players looking to compete must be double-jabbed or have a sufficient exemption.
It's understood Djokovic was led to believe his positive Covid-19 test in December would meet the latter's criteria, but further complications arose after it emerged he had lied on his visa application.
It's since come to light that Djokovic purchased an 80 per cent stake in biotech company QuantBioRes in 2020 as a means of discovering an alternative solution against Covid, other than a vaccine.
The tennis titan faces an uncertain wait as to when he'll next be involved in a Grand Slam draw, but long-time colleague Vajda is assured the mess in Melbourne won't be the end of his tale.
