Novak Djokovic during his ATP World Tour semifinal against Alexander Zverev. Photo / AP
Novak Djokovic during his ATP World Tour semifinal against Alexander Zverev. Photo / AP
Novak Djokovic's bid to get around rules requiring players at the Australian Open to be vaccinated against Covid-19 has seemingly come to an end.
Two panels approved his request for a medical exemption in order to enter Victoria state - where the year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament is held - based on having tested positive in the past six months for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
But Djokovic's visa was canceled by border officials when he arrived in Australia, before a judge overturned that action and said the 34-year-old from Serbia could stay.
That left Djokovic's case in the hands of Australia's immigration minister, Alex Hawke, who had the power to reject the visa and make the top-ranked player leave the country. Which is exactly what happened on Friday night.
Djokovic is a nine-time champion at the Australian Open, including each of the past three years. He owns 20 Grand Slam singles titles in all, tying him with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most won by a man in tennis history.
Here is a look at the timeline of events involving Djokovic's trip to Australia, from a comment about Covid-19 vaccinations nearly two years ago to the apparent end to the saga on Friday night.
2020
April: As the coronavirus pandemic rages, Djokovic issues a statement, saying, "Personally I am opposed to the vaccination against Covid-19 in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, I will have to make a decision whether to do it, or not."
June: With the professional tennis tours on hiatus because of the pandemic, Djokovic organises a series of exhibition matches in Serbia and Croatia with no rules requiring social distancing or masking. The Adria Tour is called off after some players get Covid-19; Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, test positive.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning a game at the 2021 Australian Open. Photo / AP
2021
November 19: Confirming an edict made by the Victorian state government in late October, tournament director Craig Tiley says everyone at the 2022 Australian Open must be vaccinated for Covid-19. Djokovic's vaccine status is unknown at the time.
December 8: Victoria state Deputy Premier James Merlino says medical exemptions for the vaccine policy would not be "a loophole for privileged tennis players" and would only be possible in "exceptional circumstances, if you have an acute medical condition."
December 14: Djokovic attends a professional basketball game in Belgrade and is photographed hugging several players from both teams, including some who later tested positive.
December 16: Djokovic tests positive for Covid-19 in Serbia, although that is not public knowledge until revealed by court documents in January. He later says he did not know the result until December 17.
December 17: Djokovic attends an event in Belgrade honouring youth tennis players. Parents post photos on social media showing Djokovic and the young players without masks. Djokovic later says he was asymptomatic, took an antigen test before the event that showed he was negative, and only received the positive PCR result after the event.
December 18: Knowing he tested positive, Djokovic does an interview and photo shoot with the French newspaper L'Equipe. He acknowledges weeks later: "On reflection, this was an error of judgement."
December 22: According to court documents, Djokovic tests negative for Covid-19 in Serbia.
December 29: Djokovic withdraws from Serbia's team for the ATP Cup, days before the competition is due to begin in Sydney. No reason is given.
Novak Djokovic prepares to serve during the final of the 2021 Australian Open. Photo / AP
2022
January 1: Tiley is asked in a TV interview about Djokovic's status for the Australian Open and responds: "There's quite a bit to play out and I think it will play out in the coming days."
January 4: Djokovic posts on Instagram a photo of himself at an airport with a caption that reads, in part: "I'm heading Down Under with an exemption permission." Tennis Australia follows with a statement confirming Djokovic is on his way to the country with a medical exemption "granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts." Neither Djokovic nor Tennis Australia reveals the basis for his exemption. Tiley says a "handful" of exemptions had been granted out of 26 applications from players or others. A public outcry bubbles up on social media among Australians while Djokovic's flight to Melbourne is in the air.
January 5: Djokovic arrives at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
January 6: After being detained for about eight hours upon arrival, Djokovic is denied entry to the country and his visa is canceled. He is sent to an immigration hotel, where he remains for four nights. The Australian Border Force says Djokovic failed to meet entry requirements. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweets: "Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders."
January 10: As part of his legal attempt to overturn the visa cancellation, Djokovic submits an affidavit that says he is not vaccinated for Covid-19. Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstates Djokovic's visa, ruling the player was not given enough time to speak to his lawyers before the decision to deny him entry was made at the airport. Kelly orders the government to release Djokovic from immigration detention. Hours later, Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park.
January 11: With his status still uncertain, Djokovic is installed as the No. 1 seed for the men's field at the Australian Open. The tournament strictly follows the current rankings in determining seedings and Djokovic is ranked No. 1; he has spent more weeks atop the ATP than any other man in the history of the men's professional tour's computerised rankings.
January 12: Djokovic's most extensive public comments on the matter come via a post on social media that is put up by someone while he is practicing at the Australian Open's main stadium. He acknowledges a mistake on his travel declaration for Australia, which failed to indicate that he had been in multiple countries over the prior two weeks. Djokovic blames his agent for checking the wrong box on the form, calling it "a human error and certainly not deliberate." He also clarifies the timing of his positive Covid-19 test from December and subsequent whereabouts.
January 13: The Australian Open draw is held, determining the men's and women's singles brackets for the tournament. Djokovic draws fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanović in the opening round.
January 14: Djokovic is once again banned from Australia after Hawke decides to use his "personal power of cancellation" to revoke the tennis star's visa. The Serbian's legal team immediately fight the decision and request a judicial review, which is granted. Djokovic is told he will have to attend an 8am interview on Saturday with border force officers, who will then accompany him to his lawyer's office where he will take part in a hearing from 10.15am. Djokovic will then be taken back into detention at an immigration hotel where he will spend the night, before the hearing resumes on Sunday morning local time.
