CNN
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Novak Djokovic is again in Australia, in response to a spokesperson with Tennis Australia, almost a yr after his high-profile visa ban from the nation over his stance on the Covid-19 vaccination.
The 21-time grand slam champion is slated to open his 2023 tennis season subsequent week in Adelaide for the Adelaide Worldwide 1. It comes more than a month after Australian officers mentioned that Djokovic’s three-year ban from getting into the nation can be overturned.
The Serbian was deported from Australia in January after former immigration minister Alex Hawke discovered the tennis star posed a danger to public well being and order as a result of, as a celeb sportsman who had beforehand expressed opposition to folks being compelled to get the Covid-19 vaccine, he may very well be seen as an “icon” for anti-vaxxers.
The minister’s choice to deport the previous world No. 1 males’s participant meant he was initially banned from reentry for 3 years.
On Monday, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley mentioned, “We are going to welcome him again to Australia.”
As for the reception Djokovic ought to count on to obtain from Aussies, Tiley mentioned, “I’ve a substantial amount of confidence within the Australian public. I feel now we have a really well-educated sporting public significantly those who come for tennis. They love their tennis. They love seeing greatness. They love seeing nice athleticism, nice matches.
“I’ve quite a lot of confidence that the followers will react like we hope they might react and have respect for that,” he added.
CNN has reached out to the tennis star for remark.
Djokovic has received 9 males’s singles titles on the Australian Open, greater than anybody else in historical past. He’s entered to play within the 2023 version subsequent month.
Djokovic’s high-profile visa saga overshadowed the Australian Open earlier this yr, pitting considered one of tennis’ largest stars in opposition to the Australian authorities and dividing opinion within the nation, which had enacted robust pandemic border restrictions.
The federal government revoked the Serbian’s visa shortly after his arrival in Melbourne on January 5 as a result of he was not vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19.
Djokovic mentioned he was beneath the impression he might enter the nation as a result of two unbiased panels related to Tennis Australia and the Victorian state authorities had granted him an exemption on the grounds he had been contaminated with the virus just a few weeks previous to his arrival.
However the federal authorities argued that was not a sound motive for an exemption beneath its guidelines.
A decide later dominated that border officers had been “unreasonable” after they canceled Djokovic’s visa and ordered his launch from an immigration detention heart.
However his visa was then revoked for a second time and after dropping his bid to problem the choice, the tennis star left Australia.
Regardless of his return to motion in chosen tournaments following the ordeal, the participant’s Covid-19 vaccination stance restricted his participation in others.
In July, Djokovic received his twenty first grand slam title, beating Nick Kyrgios within the ultimate at Wimbledon.
