While Novak Djokovic is still stranded in Melbourne, where he is on standby until Monday, Aleksandar Vucic is indignant at the treatment of the world No.1. The affair takes a political turn.
© AFP
Aleksandar Vucic rushed to the aid of his compatriot Novak Djokovic, criticizing the behavior of the Australian authorities.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday denounced “a political hunt” against Novak Djokovic, whose visa was canceled by the Australian authorities.
“What is not fair play is political hunting (note: against Djokovic) in which all participate, from the Prime Minister of Australia, claiming that the rules are valid for all, “Aleksandar Vucic told reporters.
The Serbian president noted that several players were allowed to enter Australia under the same conditions, but not the world No 1.
The Serbian authorities, he stressed, are doing “everything possible” to help Djokovic, adding that Belgrade has contacted the Australian ambassador to Serbia twice and that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic is to meet with a senior official of the Australian Department of Immigration and Borders.
In an “infamous” hotel
Belgrade intends to ask the Australian authorities to allow Djokovic to stay in the house he had rented for the Australian Open, and not in the hotel where he is now, which Mr. Vucic called “infamous. In the proper sense of the term”.
“I’m afraid that kind of political hunger on Novak will continue, because when you can’t beat someone, then you turn to this stuff,” he added.
Australia on Thursday canceled the visa for Djokovic, who arrived at Melbourne airport without the necessary documents to enter the country, Australian customs said.
The world No. 1 in tennis, who has never hidden his skepticism about vaccination, had obtained a medical exemption to be able to travel to Melbourne to play there the first Grand Slam tournament of the year (17 -January 30), which he has already won nine times.