In another twist in the Novak Djokovic saga, it has emerged that the player applied for the wrong visa and may have trouble getting into the country for the Australian Open.
According to to Australian newspaper The Age, the Victorian government has rejected a late-night request to sponsor the world No. 1’s visa hours before he landed in Melbourne about 11.30pm (local time).
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The World No 1, who has refused to reveal his vaccination status, was granted a medical exemption to compete at the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.
Update on #AusOpen2022…
The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia.
We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
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— Jaala Pulford MP (@JaalaPulford) January 5, 2022
Djokovic has not revealed the medical conditions that allowed him to gain the exemption.
Australian press reported that Djokovic was being quizzed by Australian Border Force officials in a room at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport until at least 1.15am.
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According to a federal government source, he was being questioned for the documentation for his medical exemption, which is required to be submitted by unvaccinated foreign nationals who seek entry into the country.
The 20-time major winner may also have a potentially wrong visa, which did not permit medical exemptions.
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A source claimed that the Australian Border Force had reached out to the Victorian government to support Djokovic’s visa.
“The federal government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia,” Victorian sports minister Jaala Pulford said in a tweet.
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“We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
“We’ve always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the federal government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.”
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Djokovic being granted medical exemption has sparked an outrage in Australia and particularly in host city Melbourne.
