'Dragged around like a rag' or 'Their country, their rules'? Serbians split on Djokovic
>> Reuters
Published: 14 Jan 2022 07:27 PM BdST Updated: 14 Jan 2022 07:27 PM BdST
-
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rests at Melbourne Park as questions remain over the legal battle regarding his visa to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Novak Djokovic is a national hero at home in Serbia, but after Australia on Friday cancelled his visa for a second time on public health grounds, some Belgraders suggested that the unvaccinated tennis star had only himself to blame.
The world men's number one player is opposed to compulsory vaccination but had secured a medical exemption from Australia's requirement that all visitors must be vaccinated against COVID-19, only to find it revoked when he arrived.
Although a court reversed that decision on procedural grounds, most Australians back their government's tough line on the pandemic, and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his power to cancel the visa again.
"Their country, their rules," Jovo Tadic told Reuters in Belgrade. "If Australia tells you to get vaccinated to enter, do it - or face problems."
The holder of 20 Grand Slam titles is revered as Serbia's greatest athlete, but many in Belgrade say his refusal to be vaccinated may now blight his career.
"I think he'll have a problem in other tournaments as it seems vaccination will be mandatory for all of them ... he'll have to do it if he wants to stay at the top," said Belgrader Marko Stanic.
Although Djokovic has not campaigned against vaccination, he has spoken about the benefits of alternative approaches to health and nutrition.
"He can either vaccinate to remain world number one - or he can be stubborn and end his career," said Ana Bojic.
Australia has endured some of the world's longest lockdowns and has seen a sharp spike in cases due to the Omicron variant.
But some in Belgrade still thought Djokovic had been made a political scapegoat by the government of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who must hold an election by May.
"Australians are dragging him around like an old rag ... they are ready to burn world's number one because of politics," said Aleksandar Petrovic.
"He won nine Grand Slams (in Australia) and they are treating him like some wretched migrant because of their own problems," said Djordje Simic.
Nikola Pilic, a Croatian who oversaw the beginning of Djokovic's career, said he was not surprised with another visa cancellation.
"They created chaos," he said. "As of day one, ... they started treating him as a criminal. It is not the first time that Novak was treated differently than (Rafael) Nadal and (Roger) Federer," Pilic told Belgrade's Prva TV.
COVID-19 has killed 13,003 people in Serbia, which has a population of about 7 million, while 1.39 million cases have been recorded there. Around 47% of Serbians have been fully vaccinated.
-
PSG part ways with manager Pochettino after 18 months in charge
-
I do what I want, says Kyrgios after breaking Wimbledon dress code
-
Why are there so many empty seats at Wimbledon this year?
-
War takes heavy toll on Ukrainian sport
-
Barcelona sign Christensen, Kessie on free transfers
-
Manchester City sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds
Most Read
- Ex-BCL leader sets himself on fire at Press Club in Dhaka
- Bangladesh is gearing up to open its first river tunnel by the end of 2022
- Drastic fall in passenger numbers forces owners to cut Dhaka-Barishal launch fares
- Bangladesh weighs rollback of power production amid soaring fuel prices
- Biman Bangladesh jets collide again at Dhaka airport
- Bangladesh to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on Jul 10
- RAB arrests Henolux owner Nurul Amin, wife for ‘instigating’ suicide of a contractor
- Henolux owner, wife accused of provoking contractor Anis to commit suicide
- Bangladesh jails teacher for 8 years over 'blasphemous' Facebook posts
- Life in Dhaka takes a hit as blackouts are back with vengeance