January 18, (THEWILL) – Tennis Australia has issued a statement expressing its concern for the negative impact that recent events involving Novak Djokovic have had on all players.
While the statement did not specifically mention Novak Djokovic’s case, it did say that a post-tournament assessment will look at all aspects of preparation and planning leading up to the year’s first Grand Slam.
Organisers said the 34-year-old was granted a medical exemption after a “rigorous review process” involving two separate independent panels of medical experts.
As THEWILL reported, Djokovic’s visa, however, was revoked upon his arrival. The world number one won an appeal, but his visa was revoked again by immigration minister Alex Hawke, and he lost a second appeal.
It is a story that dominated the build-up to, and start of the year’s first Grand Slam and organisers have responded with a statement that addresses the situation and suggests next moves.
In the statement released on Tuesday, Tennis Australia said: “We recognise that recent events have been a significant distraction for everyone and we deeply regret the impact this had on all players,” read the statement.
“There are always lessons to learn, and we will review all aspects of our preparation & implementation to inform our planning – as we do every year. That process always starts once the Australian Open champions have lifted their trophies.”
Djokovic, 34, will be unable to defend his Australian Open title, win at Melbourne Park for a record-extending 10th time, and surpass Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s joint-record tally of 20 Grand Slams as a result of the decision to reject his visa.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
