This is mostly for my own reference, because regrettably this saga, which has also brought to light the plight of stranded refugees, has awoken my dormant nosiness. Mostly in chronological order!
Important info:
court records (Novak Djokovic v Minister for Home Affairs), made public just today. Djokovic's deportation date has been moved to Monday, January 10. Australian Open is a 2-week tennis event that begins Monday, January 17.
Other info: Djokovic is currently tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for number of men's singles grand slam titles (they each have 20).
News coverage
Novak Djokovic threatens legal action after visa refusal leaves him stranded
[twitter] It’s believed Djokovic is now here at the Park Royal hotel, where more than 46 refugees are being held indefinitely.
an odd scene at the park hotel atm - #Djokovic supporters mixing with refugee activists and now a strong (comparatively) anti-vaxx contingent.
[tweet] re: Djokovic's pulmonologist. Google translated from German: This is Novak Đoković with his pulmonologist Branimir Nestorović, who claimed last year that Serbs have a "lion inside" that protects them from Covid. He also said that maybe 40 people would die in Serbia (12,831 † so far).
‘Everyone asks about Novak’ but Mehdi has languished for nine years in Australian immigration detention
Novak Djokovic wins court bid to remain in Australia until Monday
Letters from federal government cast doubt on Djokovic exemption
Twists and finger-pointing over question of Djokovic’s eligibility (a breakdown of the processes and entities behind the visa and exemption acquisition)
[podcast] Deciphering Details of Djokovic’s Deportation Drama (relevant information: the claim was that Djokovic had a prior Covid infection in the last 6 months—but upon investigation, only 1 doctor would corroborate; and unlike other participants granted exemption, he/his team could not produce the requested documents or PCR results)
Djokovic family rallies support for Serbian star amid protests (relevant information: Djokovic's arrival and detainment occurred on Serbian Christmas Eve)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S FATHER, SRDJAN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE AMID DETENTION IN AUSTRALIA: "THEY CRUCIFIED JESUS, NOW THEY ARE CRUCIFYING NOVAK"
Czech tennis player Renata Voracova detained by Australian Border Force (relevant information: she had already been in Melbourne for a month and has participated on a tournament on the same vaccine exemption that Djokovic got—granted by Tennis Australia, I think? The detainment (by Border Force) was retroactive.)
We need them: Tennis Australia pleaded for vaccine exemption for players
[tweet] The third and final Australian Open participant (an official, not a player) who used same exemption as Djokovic has voluntarily left Australia
Court records published (Novak Djokovic v Minister for Home Affairs)
Novak Djokovic: Having Covid gave tennis star vaccine exemption - lawyers (relevant information: lawyers claim that Djokovic had a Covid infection on December 16, allegedly confirmed by a PCR test; but on December 17 was seen in a public ceremony [source: Djokovic's own Twitter account], maskless. "It is unclear whether he knew he had Covid when the photos were taken.")
[twitter thread] A question lingering: if Djokovic was claiming a coronavirus positive in last six months as reason for an exemption, when did he get it? (relevant information: screencaps of Djokovic's public appearances for posterity)
There is also a "Free Djokovic!" petition from anti-vaxxers. This was created before it was reported that Djokovic purportedly tested positive for Covid just last month. Novak Djokovic had a very public case of COVID last summer from which he acquired robust natural immunity. Additionally, it is now abundantly clear that the COVID shots are totally ineffective in combatting the virus' new variants. So why insist on making an example of a healthy professional athlete with naturally acquired immunity?
ATP reactions
Rafael Nadal: video | full transcript (in image format)I mean it's normal that the people here in Australia get very frustrated with the case because they have been going through a lot of very hard lockdowns, and a lot of people were not able to come back home [. . .] Of course after a lot of people had been dying for two years, my feeling is with the vaccine is the only way to stop this pandemic [. . .] I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem. He went through another—he made his own choices, and everyone is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences.
Andy Roddick: on Twitter: This really really sucks. Assuming this is right, would be really rough to ban Novak for 3 years as are current rules for deportation. I’m curious to hear Tiley’s response. He’s always been an innovator and super on it. This is surprising, and disappointing
Boris Becker (Djokovic's former coach) in an editorial he wrote for The Daily Mail: Novak Djokovic is like family to me but he is making a BIG mistake in not getting vaccinated... it is a decision that threatens his chance to cement himself as the GREATEST player of all time.
Nick Kyrgios (a player who has an adversarial relationship with Djokovic) on Twitter:Look I definitely believe in taking action, I got vaccinated because of others and for my mums health, but how we are handling Novak’s situation is bad, really bad. Like these memes, headlines, this is one of our great champions but at the end of the day, he is human. Do better.
And quoted here:For the sport, we need him here... I just want it to end, I'm feeling for him now, it's not really humane what's going on.
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Feliciano Lopez (with a follow-up tweet clarifying his statement), Vasek Pospisil and John Isner have also shown support for Djokovic.![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
