Tennis player Novak Djokovic is exempt from the requirement to get vaccinated against Corona in order to enter Australia, because he was recently infected with the virus – his lawyers claimed in documents submitted to the country’s court. “The date of the first positive PCR test was recorded on December 16, 2021,” the lawyers argued.
According to documents submitted by his lawyers to the court and published today (Saturday), it was alleged that at the end of 14 days since the positive test for Corona he “did not report fever or difficulty breathing in the last 72 hours”. However, so far it has not been reported that he contracted corona.
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Earlier this week a global storm erupted after Djokovic’s entry into Australia was postponed after landing in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open. He is currently in solitary confinement and is scheduled to appeal the decision on Monday.
Djokovic, who is known to oppose vaccines, claimed he had received medical clearance to play in the Grand Slam tournament, in a decision that provoked outrage among many in Australia. But nonetheless, his entry was denied and border control authorities claimed he “did not provide proper evidence” at Melbourne Airport.
If Djokovic is eventually allowed to stay, he will try to win the 21st Grand Slam title of his career – more so than Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who hold 20 Grand Slam titles each.
More than a hundred fans and opponents of vaccines demonstrated today in front of the motel against the decision to ban the tennis player from entering the country. “Novak is taking a stand and this is a worldwide opportunity for him to say something against vaccines and how ridiculous it is,” said one of the protesters, Margaret Beach, a former elementary school teacher.
Djokovic also received support from Australian tennis player Nick Kirius, who praised him at an existing press conference. “You do not become a champion without being able to deal with such difficulties,” he said. At the same time, Djokovic’s father claimed that his son was a victim of a “political witch-hunter.”
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