Novak Djokovic ‘should not be here’ in Australia, says Wimbledon quarter-finalist

Australian Open
Novak Djokovic water break

The decision to grant Novak Djokovic a medical exemption has received a negative reception in the tennis community, according to Marton Fucsovics with the Hungarian saying he doesn’t think the world No 1 should be playing at the Australian Open.

Djokovic was granted the green light by Tennis Australia to travel Down Under for the season-opening Grand Slam despite not being vaccinated against Covid-19 with authorities handing him a medical exemption.

However, he was detained upon arrival and the Australian Border Force revoked his visa as, according to their guidelines, he did not have the correct documents to enter the country.

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The Serbian challenged the ruling in court and on Monday a judge quashed the cancelled visa and ordered the Australian government to release him.

The saga, though, is not over as the Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could still use his personal power to again cancel the visa.

Fucsovics, who was defeated by Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter-final in 2021, was asked for his thoughts on the issue.

“Djokovic is the greatest tennis player in the sport, winning everything, he has won nine times here in Melbourne as well, so he deserves to be here and start,” he told M4Sport.

“However, we must not go beyond what is happening in the world now. People’s health is paramount, and there are rules that were outlined months ago, namely that everyone should vaccinate themselves, and Djokovic didn’t.

“From this point of view, I don’t think he has the right to be here.”

The Hungarian added that “there was a rather negative reception among members of the tennis community that the Serbian world No 1 could be there in Australia and was granted an exemption because they did not feel it was fair.”

Marton Fucsovics Novak Djokovic

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