By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday October 24, 2022
Djokovic and his legal team believe they are close to getting his three-year visa ban lifted for the Australian Open.
Photo Source: Mark Peterson / Corleve
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday, October 24, 2022
Novak Djokovic remains uncertain that he will have his three-year ban (due to losing his visa appeal) lifted in time to play the 2023 Australian Open – but hope springs eternal.
In an exclusive with Sportal, Djokovic tells reporters that his legal team is in the process of clearing the way for his return to the Melbourne.
“When it comes to Australia, there are some positive signs, but unofficially,” 35-year-old Djokovic told Sportal. “We are communicating through my lawyers in Australia. In fact, they are communicating with the authorities in charge of my case. I hope to have an answer in the next few weeks – whatever that answer might be, but of course I am hoping for a positive one – so that I have enough time to prepare for the start of the season, if that start is going to happen in Australia.”
Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic was famously deported from Australia last year, after a last-minute exemption, granted by the state of Victoria, was thwarted.
He says it’s all water under the bridge now, and he just wants to do what he loves the most – play tennis!
“For the choices I made, I new there would be certain consequences like not going to America, and that is it,” Djokovic said. “For Australia it was a different case, I had the exception, but in the end it did not work out. We know what happened, let’s not go back.
"This time I am waiting for the permission again. It is a good thing that they have now opened the borders for the unvaccinated foreigners traveling to Australia. I have that ban, I hope it will be lifted. As I said, it is not in my hands, I hope the people in the Australian Government will give a positive answer, that is all.”