Tennis Australia's brutal call on Novak Djokovic's bid to return

Novak Djokovic will have to go without the support of Tennis Australia in his bid to have his three-year visa ban overturned if he hopes to return to the country.

The prospect of Djokovic launching a bid to return to the Australian Open next year with unvaccinated travellers now no longer banned from entering the country.

However Djokovic's ban will remain in place unless overturned by the federal government, with his three-year ban not affected by the change in border policy since his attempt to gain entry earlier in 2022.

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Djokovic's visa was cancelled by the Morrison government's then Immigration minister Alex Hawke under discretionary powers, with the prospect of his potential return being described as a 'slap in the face' to vaccinated Australians by now shadow Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews.

While it remains to be seen if Djokovic will attempt to overturn the ban in light of Australia's changed border policy, he will be doing so without the advice or assistance of Tennis Australia.

Discussing the Serbian star's likelihood of coming back to Melbourne, Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley said that while he hoped the 21-time grand slam champion would be able to come back, any attempt to overturn his ban would have to be done without lobbying from the organisation.

“At this point, Novak and the federal government need to work out the situation and then we’ll follow any instruction after that,” Tiley said at the official launch of the 2023 Australian Open on Wednesday.

“It’s not a matter we can lobby on.

"It’s a matter that definitely stays between the two of them and then depending on the outcome of that, we would welcome him to the Australian Open.”

The visa cancellation came with an automatic three-year ban from the country, however the Albanese government is believed to be leaning towards waiving the ban due to the change in circumstances around Covid-19.

But according to Ms Andrews, a move to grant Djokovic a new visa would make a mockery of the decision that was made.

"It would be a slap in the face for those people in Australia who did the right thing... if all of a sudden, Novak Djokovic is allowed back into the country, simply because he is a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars," she told the ABC.

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Ms Andrews was the Home Affairs Minister at the time of Djokovic's deportation, but is now in the shadow role due to the change in government.

"If immigration now chooses to make a special announcement for Novak Djokovic, the obvious question is what are you going to do about anyone else in similar circumstances?" she continued.

"I don't think there is any reason it should be overturned simply because someone has a lot of money.

"So the government would clearly need to look at everyone else in these circumstances who would have had a visa cancelation and see whether or not they should be allowed into the country as well. It shouldn't be one rule for Novak Djokovic and a different rule for everyone else who is not worth millions."

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan told Sky News Australia on Monday that the "integrity" of Australia’s borders should be the priority.

“As a tennis lover, I’d love to see him there… But the most important thing here is that we protect the integrity of our immigration system,” Mr Tehan said.

“The rules about coming into Australia have changed, you don't have to be vaccinated anymore.

“If they decide that he can come, they’ve got to do so in making that decision in a way to protect the integrity of our immigration system.”

Tiley revealed last week that Djokovic is keen to return to Melbourne for the 2023 Australian Open.

“I do know he’d like to return to the AO,” Tiley said.

“He’s the nine-time champion and of course we always want the best players in the world to compete.

“It’s a matter between him and the relevant federal authorities.”

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