Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[Nadalfan2013]

If Nadal ends up with the slam record it will be the biggest punishment for Djokovic.

 

[Vince Evert]

Djokovic Covid tests were valid, Serbian officials say​

Djokovic Covid tests were valid, Serbian officials say

Doubts have been cast over the validity of documents the tennis star submitted to enter Australia.

www.bbc.com

"It was established that Novak Djokovic was tested multiple times and the... test results from December 16 and December 22 were valid."

However, they offer no explanation at all on the test's numbers discrepancy.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Djokovic Covid tests were valid, Serbian officials say​

Djokovic Covid tests were valid, Serbian officials say

Doubts have been cast over the validity of documents the tennis star submitted to enter Australia.

www.bbc.com

"It was established that Novak Djokovic was tested multiple times and the... test results from December 16 and December 22 were valid."

However, they offer no explanation at all on the test's numbers discrepancy.

Thanks Vince,it also must be noted that Novak's biographer has said Novak is thinking of having a vaccine,which I read earlier today

 

[Vince Evert]

Also there is other reports that suggests Novak will be vaccinated soon.

Obviously an independant ITF or ATP investigation is needed but it probably won’t happen, because of DJOKOVIC's status in the game.
And even if there was , will the Government of Serbia be cooperative? That, i have my doubts.
You just watch, it will all be swept under the carpet during the year.

 

[Vince Evert]

Thanks Vince,it also must be noted that Novak's biographer has said Novak is thinking of having a vaccine,which I read earlier today

Yeah that's been mention online. Don't know what to make it of this:

After missing out on the Australian Open due to not getting the jab, Novak Djokovic is reportedly set to complete a stunning backflip by getting a Covid vaccination.

Djokovic sent shockwaves through the nation when he revealed he was coming to Melbourne to play in the first slam of the year despite being not vaccinated against Covid.
The Serbian star arrived with a medical exemption on the basis he had been infected with Covid in December, but he was eventually deported from the country and subsequently missed out on the chance to win what would have been a record 21st grand slam title.


Instead, Rafael Nadal broke the record via an enthralling five-set victory in the final over Daniil Medvedev.

As Djokovic was forced to watch his rival lift the trophy, it appears it lit a fire in his belly to get the jab so he can contend in future grand slams.

According to author Daniel Muksch, who wrote A Lifetime At War — a book detailing Djokovic’s tennis journey — seeing Nadal win his 21st slam was the trigger for his surprise move.

“From what I have heard from those around him, I think he is getting vaccinated,” Muksch reportedly said on Austrian TV station Servus TV.

“Maybe the final in Melbourne also contributed to that.

“Rafael Nadal’s 21 is driving him, no question.”

One prominent figure who expressed his happiness in seeing Djokovic potentially changing his vaccination stance is Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Mr Hunt was the man who sent letters to Tennis Australia in November informing them that recently contracting Covid wasn’t a legitimate reason to gain a vaccination exemption.

After being informed of Djokovic’s reported decision, Mr Hunt said that he was “delighted” at the 34-year-old getting the jab and hoped it might change the mindset of others who are hesitant.


“Look, I’m happy for anybody anywhere to be vaccinated and if in some small way as a country we have encouraged Novak or any other individual to do that then that’s great,” Mr Hunt told Sunrise.

“But you know what’s much more important?

“I think that will encourage more people who have been hesitant to be vaccinated and that would be the real win out of this.

“I hadn’t heard that. I’m delighted if that is the case.

“But to everybody, doesn’t matter where you are, whether you are overseas or in Australia, first dose, second dose, booster, everything you are eligible for, it will help protect you.

“Please come forward.”

Muksch’s revelation comes after Serbian health officials confirmed early on Thursday (AEDT) his controversial Covid test results proving he had the virus were legitimate, after a string of media reports questioned the authenticity of the documents.

The 34-year-old world number one was unable to play in the Australian Open after being deported over Covid-19 vaccination issues, despite initially receiving an exemption from officials based on an positive PCR test weeks ahead of the tournament.

Serbia’s prosecutor’s office said there was no evidence suggesting the tests had been manipulated, according to an inquiry by the country’s health ministry.

“It was established that Novak Djokovic was tested multiple times and the … test results from December 16 and December 22 were valid,” read the statement from the office.

‘The real win’: Djokovic’s shock Covid backflip set to ‘upset a lot of people’

‘The real win’: Djokovic’s shock Covid backflip set to ‘upset a lot of people’

www.foxsports.com.au

BTW Margaret, earlier today i had my third Pfizer Vaccination, last was October 22. But i have been told to get a written certificate i have to call Services Australia.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yeah that's been mention online. Don't know what to make it of this:

After missing out on the Australian Open due to not getting the jab, Novak Djokovic is reportedly set to complete a stunning backflip by getting a Covid vaccination.

Djokovic sent shockwaves through the nation when he revealed he was coming to Melbourne to play in the first slam of the year despite being not vaccinated against Covid.
The Serbian star arrived with a medical exemption on the basis he had been infected with Covid in December, but he was eventually deported from the country and subsequently missed out on the chance to win what would have been a record 21st grand slam title.


Instead, Rafael Nadal broke the record via an enthralling five-set victory in the final over Daniil Medvedev.

As Djokovic was forced to watch his rival lift the trophy, it appears it lit a fire in his belly to get the jab so he can contend in future grand slams.

According to author Daniel Muksch, who wrote A Lifetime At War — a book detailing Djokovic’s tennis journey — seeing Nadal win his 21st slam was the trigger for his surprise move.

“From what I have heard from those around him, I think he is getting vaccinated,” Muksch reportedly said on Austrian TV station Servus TV.

“Maybe the final in Melbourne also contributed to that.

“Rafael Nadal’s 21 is driving him, no question.”

One prominent figure who expressed his happiness in seeing Djokovic potentially changing his vaccination stance is Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Mr Hunt was the man who sent letters to Tennis Australia in November informing them that recently contracting Covid wasn’t a legitimate reason to gain a vaccination exemption.

After being informed of Djokovic’s reported decision, Mr Hunt said that he was “delighted” at the 34-year-old getting the jab and hoped it might change the mindset of others who are hesitant.


“Look, I’m happy for anybody anywhere to be vaccinated and if in some small way as a country we have encouraged Novak or any other individual to do that then that’s great,” Mr Hunt told Sunrise.

“But you know what’s much more important?

“I think that will encourage more people who have been hesitant to be vaccinated and that would be the real win out of this.

“I hadn’t heard that. I’m delighted if that is the case.

“But to everybody, doesn’t matter where you are, whether you are overseas or in Australia, first dose, second dose, booster, everything you are eligible for, it will help protect you.

“Please come forward.”

Muksch’s revelation comes after Serbian health officials confirmed early on Thursday (AEDT) his controversial Covid test results proving he had the virus were legitimate, after a string of media reports questioned the authenticity of the documents.

The 34-year-old world number one was unable to play in the Australian Open after being deported over Covid-19 vaccination issues, despite initially receiving an exemption from officials based on an positive PCR test weeks ahead of the tournament.

Serbia’s prosecutor’s office said there was no evidence suggesting the tests had been manipulated, according to an inquiry by the country’s health ministry.

“It was established that Novak Djokovic was tested multiple times and the … test results from December 16 and December 22 were valid,” read the statement from the office.

‘The real win’: Djokovic’s shock Covid backflip set to ‘upset a lot of people’

‘The real win’: Djokovic’s shock Covid backflip set to ‘upset a lot of people’

www.foxsports.com.au

BTW Margaret, earlier today i had my third Pfizer Vaccination, last was October 22. But i have been told to get a written certificate i have to call Services Australia.

Well if Novak wants to play the full tour he will have to be vaccinated,IW and Miami for eg, French Open,Wimbledon he would not have to,I would imagine the USO he would.If Novak is hell bent on breaking records,he will have to think seriously about vaccination.

 

[Vince Evert]

Well if Novak wants to play the full tour he will have to be vaccinated,IW and Miami for eg, French Open,Wimbledon he would not have to,I would imagine the USO he would.If Novak is hell bent on breaking records,he will have to think seriously about vaccination.

Anything can happen between now and May, June. Who knows, maybe the virus will be as good as over and many of the restrictions we have to endure today , these will be lifted.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Anything can happen between now and May, June. Who knows, maybe the virus will be as good as over and many of the restrictions we have to endure today , these will be lifted.

Point taken,as long as we dont get another variant,which could be on the cards as virus can mutate

 

[Moxie]

Interesting that McEnroe has weighed in :

John McEnroe calls for probe into positive Covid test at centre of Novak Djokovic deportation row:

An investigation has revealed the serial number on Djokovic's test on December 16 appears out of sequence with sample of tests from Serbia

John McEnroe has called for an investigation into the positive coronavirus test at the centre of the Novak Djokovic deportation furore after further doubts emerged over the timing of it.

Research conducted earlier this month by a German group called Zerforschung, which partnered with Der Spiegel, flagged up a discrepancy between the dates and serial numbers on paperwork submitted by Djokovic’s lawyers during his failed legal battle to avoid being thrown out of Australia.

The BBC said on Friday it had obtained evidence that appeared to show the serial number on the document stating Djokovic tested positive on December 16 was out of sequence with a sample of tests from Serbia over the same period.

It also found that serial number fell between those obtained from tests carried out between December 25 and 28.

The German investigation earlier identified a further discrepancy with the official online record of Djokovic’s test, a timestamp for which indicating the corresponding web page may not have been created until December 26.

Djokovic, who has admitted breaking quarantine rules by carrying out an interview with a journalist on December 18, had left Serbia for Spain shortly after Christmas before flying to Australia via Dubai.

Representatives of Djokovic and the Institute of Public Health of Serbia have failed to respond to repeated requests for comment on the discrepancies with his test and whether they were merely glitches.

Asked whether the tennis authorities needed to get to the bottom of the matter, McEnroe said: “In short, yes. I’d like to know.

“I’ll give you an example of something I don’t understand. Novak Djokovic, to me, is an extremely smart person. If he tested positive on – what date is it? – December 15th – I’m throwing in a date – why in the hell would he do an interview with a journalist on December 16th?

“That makes absolutely no sense to me. The guy’s not stupid. He’s smart. So, already, I’m like, ‘What?!’

“I mean, he wasn’t just sitting around going, ‘I hope I get Covid so I can get an exemption’. So that wasn’t happening.”

McEnroe, a pundit for Eurosport at the Australian Open, warned that the Serbian authorities would not investigate the matter themselves amid anger in Djokovic’s homeland over his deportation.

Speaking on the day the 34-year-old was declared an honorary citizen of Budva, Montengro, in one of his first public appearances since he was thrown out of Australia, McEnroe said: “I don’t think that you’ll be getting the Serbian authorities to try to figure out a way to make Novak look bad, if that’s what anyone’s thinking. That ain’t happening.”

The International Tennis Federation and Association of Tennis Professionals did not respond to requests for comment on whether they would investigate Djokovic’s test.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/...g-novak-djokovics-positive-covid-test-centre/

John McEnroe is deep in with those who make tennis work. (He commentates for the US and BBC, he has an academy in the US, etc.) My suspicion is that this is a trial balloon, and not just a random comment from him. You're never going to get the answer from the Serbian government. ATP and ITF might yet bury it, but this makes me think that tennis higher-ups are looking into it.

 

[Jelenafan]

Good luck trying to get anything to stick.

*IF* there was corruption and sample tampering , imagine trying to get evidence out of the medical infrastructure involved in said country. Either way, even if everything is on the up and up, the political and legal ramifications and the resources involved in an investigation and subsequent court case is something I doubt the ITF would have the backbone and intestinal fortitude to pursue.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokovic said that he will give his version of events in Australia publicly in the next 7-10 days

 

[Moxie]

Good luck trying to get anything to stick.

*IF* there was corruption and sample tampering , imagine trying to get evidence out of the medical infrastructure involved in said country. Either way, even if everything is on the up and up, the political and legal ramifications and the resources involved in an investigation and subsequent court case is something I doubt the ITF would have the backbone and intestinal fortitude to pursue.

Agreed. However, it is a two-tiered thing. One is if the ATP/ITF accept his covid certs, which I guess he can mitigate by getting vaccinated. To come into the US, (IW starts in 1 month and a few days,) he'd likely have to get vaccinated today, and even then, his 2nd jab doesn't allow for the 14 days after of full effectiveness. But they will probably just run with that. However, another is if governments have issues with him playing fast and loose with his visa applications. US immigration is not especially forgiving or flexible.

I'm not especially surprised that he's changed his tune on vaccination, given what it has already cost him, but I have read so far that he's "planning on" getting vaccinated. How much planning does it take, really?

 

[Vince Evert]

Novak Djokovic said that he will give his version of events in Australia publicly in the next 7-10 days

Bring it on, i say.

Of particular interest will be to hear his version on what Tennis Australia and the State Victoria Government arranging a visa in particular Craig Tilley role.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Novak Djokovic said that he will give his version of events in Australia publicly in the next 7-10 days

In 7-10 days? lol Attention seeker as usual. Meanwhile Nadal respects rules, stays out of trouble and focuses on tennis. GOATdal will run away with the slam record all to himself... Djokovic is such a drama queen.

 

[Moxie]

Bring it on, i say.

Of particular interest will be to hear his version on what Tennis Australia and the State Victoria Government arranging a visa in particular Craig Tilley role.

Why is it that I'm not sure this will go especially well? Oh, right, because Novak seems to have terrible advisors. He's going to have to tread so lightly, so as not to insult the Australian government, or TA, or to make himself the victim in any way, (which seems always to be his inclination.) Am I wrong to think he should just shut up, get vaccinated, and try to play tennis the rest of the year without controversy? Let's see if he can manage this without getting in his own way. I think he's got a 50/50 shot, at best.

 

[Vince Evert]

Why is it that I'm not sure this will go especially well? Oh, right, because Novak seems to have terrible advisors. He's going to have to tread so lightly, so as not to insult the Australian government, or TA, or to make himself the victim in any way, (which seems always to be his inclination.) Am I wrong to think he should just shut up, get vaccinated, and try to play tennis the rest of the year without controversy? Let's see if he can manage this without getting in his own way. I think he's got a 50/50 shot, at best.

Well there's always two sides for any given issue/ story. Best to hear his "version" ASAP then we'll all be able to reach an informed opinion...."He was right/wrong... the government was right/wrong".

 

[Moxie]

Well there's always two sides for any given issue/ story. Best to hear his "version" ASAP then we'll all be able to reach an informed opinion...."He was right/wrong... the government was right/wrong".

Sure, fine. I'm just saying that he'd better try really hard not to come off as victimized, because that won't go well, IMO.

 

[Andy22]

Australia says To Djokovic

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just watched Novak on TV with the Serbian President and all Novak said regarding his deportation from Australia, it was 'an unfortunate event' he said he would tell his side of the story in the next coming days.

 

[Kieran]

Novak Djokovic said that he will give his version of events in Australia publicly in the next 7-10 days

That should be interesting. He's got several questions to answer.

Why did he think that he had a medical exemption when google could have told him in less than 90 seconds that he didn't?

Why did he then travel to Australia, knowing he had no legal right to enter?

Why did he lie on his visa?

And - pre-empting his likely answers on the above questions - why is he blaming others and not taking personal responsibility for his own travel documents?

Why did he think it a good idea to break isolation when he knew it was a legal requirement after he got a positive test result?

Did it ever cross his mind to make a stand on his vaccine-choice principles and not go to Australia?

I get the feeling that if he's just making a statement, and not facing questions, he'll make things worse for himself. And if he's facing friendly questions from a Serbian interrogator, it won't be much better, but it could be unintentionally funny...