Novak Djokovic news: ‘It was a true catastrophic situation’ – Laslo Djere

Ayanda Frances Felem
January 17, 2022

Serbia’s Laslo Djere has slammed the Australian government over how they handled the Novak Djokovic visa situation.

The 26-year-old, who lost to Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, lamented the events of the past week, describing it as unfortunate.

World No 1 Djokovic landed in Dubai on Monday after his sensational deportation from Australia over his coronavirus vaccination status.

Djokovic has lost his chance to defend his Australian Open title after an Australian court upheld a government deportation order.

Novak Djokovic news: World No 1 banned from Australia for three years, but…

Three Federal Court judges on Sunday sided with Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel the Serbian’s visa on public interest grounds.

“I think not just Serbians, I think the whole world saw it and they probably will have a new or different opinion about Australia. I mean, the guy had the exemption, and they still deported him,” Djere told Fox Sports.

“I don’t know the details, so I also don’t want to be too harsh, but what everyone could read, yeah, he’s not vaccinated, but we were told that we can enter the country with an exemption, which he had, and yet he’s not here with us. Something went horribly wrong.

“Yeah, it was a true catastrophic situation. I don’t know what else to say.”

Ranked No 51, Djere who has won two ATP Tour singles titles – an ATP 500 Series event in Rio in 2019, and the inaugural Forte Village Sardegna Open in 2020, has slammed the Australian public for turning its back on Djokovic.

“I mean, even if he wasn’t a nine-time champion or the person who he is, but especially that he’s a great guy and always tries to help others, and yeah, won the tournament nine times, of course,” said Djere.

“Yet like most of the Australian people wanted that he leaves.

“Nick Kyrgios also mentioned two years ago when there were the bush fires, he donated I think a good amount of money and everything, and now here in Australia everyone just turned their (sic) back on him.”

Laslo Djere Novak Djokovic