Novak Djokovic told to 'do what it takes' to get three-year Australian Open ban lifted

Novak Djokovic is eagerly waiting to find out if he will be allowed to return to Australia for the Australian Open in January. The nine-time champion in Melbourne was expelled at the start of the season, meaning he has an automatic three-year ban from re-entering the country. As he waits to hear if the ban can be lifted, a minister has warned that Djokovic doesn't deserve to return because he didn't 'do the right thing and get vaccinated' .

Djokovic had his visa revoked twice when he arrived in Melbourne to play this year's Australian Open nine months ago, successfully appealing for reinstatement the first time but failing the second time, which saw him sent off on the eve of the tournament. Anyone whose visa is revoked is automatically banned from returning to the country for three years.

The ban can be lifted on appeal, and the world number 7 is currently waiting to hear if he can return for the first Grand Slam of 2023. But some in Australia are strongly opposed to Djokovic returning to the country before 2025, when his ban expired, Home Secretary Karen Andrews claimed Djokovic's return would be a "slap in the face" because he hadn't "done the right thing". /p>

“There would have been other people in similar circumstances who would also have had their visas revoked,” she told ABC radio Monday. "So if immigration now chooses to grant a special allowance to Novak Djokovic, the obvious question is what are they going to do with anyone else who might be in similar circumstances?" /p>

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While Andrews was against lifting Djokovic's ban, Australia's Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases. But the minister said his return would be a 'slap in the face for Australians who did the right thing (and) got vaccinated'.

She continued, "(Why) should Novak Djokovic be allowed back into the country just because he's a high-ranking tennis player with several million dollars? It shouldn't just be a rule. for (him) and a different rule for everyone."

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