On January 5, Beijing time, after the world‘s No. 1 Novak Djokovic revealed that he was exempt from participating in the Australian Open, the Australian media “abc” stated that the Australians responded with anger and confusion. Prior to this, Djokovic had refused to disclose his vaccination status, so it seems unlikely to be allowed to participate in the game. However, on Tuesday evening local time, the Australian Open and the Victorian government confirmed that the Serbs had been exempted, saying that they had conducted a review to confirm that Djokovic’s “real health meets the exemption criteria.”
This decision aroused the outrage of Australians on social media.
“Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time. Forget Rod Laver, Agassi, Federer, Sampras, Nadal, McEnroe, Connors and Borg, Because Novak has won 20 Grand Slams and 87 championship titles, and $1 billion, and we didn’t know he had a debilitating health problem.” Australian football superstar Kevin Bartley wrote, “We are treated as fools.”
Ben Rosenborg, a well-known tennis journalist, released the Australian government’s guidelines on who can be allowed to be exempt, and said that he will question the legality of Djokovic’s exemption: “Although we now know that Djokovic plans to participate in Australia Tennis Open, but there is still quite a lot of speculation about the legality of his exemption. The Australian authorities listed the’acute critical illness’ here, what might a healthy number one athlete have? There are also non-profits who can apply to enter Australia. Medical exemption, but Djokovic did not say that his exemption is a medical exemption. And it is hard to imagine that a tennis player, even a good tennis player, would be regarded as’in the national interest’ or possessing’key skills’ ‘.”
Australian rising star Alex De Minar gave a brief response at the press conference after the ATP Cup match: “This is very interesting. This is all I have to say.”
Andy Murray’s brother, British player Jamie Murray, said that people have to believe that Djokovic has a health problem: “I think if I hadn’t been vaccinated, I would not be exempted… but yes. For him, he is very happy to come to Australia to participate in the competition. In the final analysis, you must believe that he does have a reasonable medical exemption.”
Stephen Pannis, a well-known emergency doctor in Victoria, said that this exemption sends a shocking message to people trying to stop the spread of the new crown epidemic: “I don’t care how good a tennis player he is, if he refuses to be vaccinated. He should not be allowed to enter the vaccine. If this exemption is true, it will send a shocking message to millions of people seeking to reduce the risk of the new coronavirus to themselves and others. Vaccination shows respect, Novak .”
Dennis Sandgren, who did not qualify for the Australian Open’s participation exemption because he did not receive the new crown vaccine, bitterly mocked Djokovic. He told Ben Rosenberg, who had reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2018 and 2020. He did not try to apply for a medical exemption like the Serb did, “because he did not meet any of the criteria listed.”
Melbourne resident Ron Wilson told AFP on Wednesday local time: “I think this is disgusting. I think he should make up his mind before then, and should not decide to come in at the last minute.”
In response to the huge controversy over the Djokovic incident, Australian Open tournament director Craig Terry revealed that tennis players and staff have submitted 26 applications for medical exemptions, but only a “few” have been approved. Terry said that Djokovic’s exemption was in compliance with the regulations, and the decision was fair: “Anyone who meets these conditions is allowed to enter. There is no special benefit, and (we) did not give Novak a special opportunity. “Return to Sohu to see more
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