On a tennis court, Novak Djokovic's timing is perfect. But when he arrived in Australia to play the first Grand Slam of the year holding documents allowing him to enter the country without a COVID-19 vaccine, his timing could hardly have been worse. When Djokovic landed in Melbourne on Wednesday he found himself in a city beset by surging virus cases. Border officials rejected Djokovic's documentation, cancelled his visa and ordered him out of the country in a move that many Australians cheered. The tennis star's outspoken opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine struck a wrong note in a city where 92% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated. Djokovic is appealing the order to leave and for now remains in Melbourne. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who had not objected to the decision of Tennis Australia and the Victoria state government to grant Djokovic a vaccine exemption, quickly embraced the decision to deny him entry, raising questions about whether the world's top male tennis player — and the reigning Australian Open champion — was being made a scapegoat. "No one is above these rules," Morrison said. "Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID. We are continuing to be vigilant." Former Australian Open tournament director and Davis Cup player Paul McNamee said the treatment of Djokovic was unfair. For the first two years of the pandemic, under Morrison's leadership, Australia pursued a COVID-zero policy, seeking to eliminate the virus through strict border controls and local lockdowns. Australians weren't able to travel overseas except in extraordinary circumstances and many living abroad couldn't return, creating hardships for separated families. In recent months, Morrison's government has pivoted to a living-with-COVID approach that includes open borders and a lighter touch on domestic restrictions. He implemented the changes just as the highly contagious omicron variant started to take hold. Morrison, who is seeking re-election in March, has faced heavy criticism for the new strategy. But he points to Australia's low death rate and strong economy — both among the best in the world — as evidence he can steer the country through the crisis. The cancellation of Djokovic's visa was poorly received in his native Serbia, where he is a national hero. The Serbian president condemned the move and Djokovic's family voiced anger at what they portrayed as an affront to the Serbian people. Djokovic has been left to wait out the court process at Melbourne's down-market Park Hotel. Fellow residents there include refugees and asylum-seekers who have been transferred from Australia's off-shore detention centres of Manus Island and Nauru. In October, a COVID-19 outbreak at the hotel infected about half of the 46 asylum-seekers then being held there. Melbourne reported 21,728 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, in addition to six deaths and an increase in hospitalizations. By 9 a.m., 18 state-run PCR testing sites had already reached capacity and closed. In 2020 and 2021, Melbourne was the world's most locked-down city and residents spent 256 days under severe restrictions on movements and gatherings. Djokovic landed in the city against that backdrop, while also refusing to discuss his vaccine status or explain why his health-based exemption had been granted. The process that led to that decision now is under scrutiny. Tennis Australia insists Djokovic's exemption was granted by an independent panel of medical experts working blindly, unaware whose vaccine applications they were assessing. — Agencies
