CBS correspondent Vladimir Duthiers praised Australia following Novak Djokovic’s apparent failed attempt to defend his Australian Open title after declining to provide his COVID-19 vaccination status, a saga which has gripped the sports world.
Djokovic’s quest for back-to-back championships was questionable for months after the No. 1 player in the world declined to provide his vaccine status to the tournament. But a beaming Djokovic announced to his fans on Tuesday that he had been given a medical exemption from the vaccine requirement, and he would be heading down under after all.
It turned out to be a short-lived celebration. Just a day after Djokovic’s smiling Instagram post, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison released a statement saying they had encountered a problem with the athlete’s visa; it had been “canceled” and he would be sent home. Australian Border Forces released its own statement that Djokovic did not provide the “appropriate evidence” to meet the government’s entry requirements.
FILE – Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Dadswell, File)
Djokovic’s situation has torn the tennis world. Tennys Sandgren, an American tennis player who is unvaccinated, defended him.
“Just to be crystal clear here, 2 separate medical boards approved his exemption And politicians are stopping it Australia doesn’t deserve to host a grand slam,” Sandgren tweeted.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 22: Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison speaks to Qantas employees at the Qantas Jetbase on October 22, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images) (James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
World No. 6 and fellow Grand Slam title winner Rafael Nadal, however, said rules are rules.
“If you are vaccinated you can play,” Nadal told press Thursday.
Fox News’s Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Cortney O’Brien is an Editor at Fox News. Twitter: @obrienc2
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