Hope Novak Djokovic is okay: Andy Murray says Serb’s Australia visa issue not good for tennis

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray empathised witth Novak Djokovic on Sunday, saying the tennis fraternity is shocked over the situation that the Serb has found himself amid his visa cancellation row ahead of the Australian Open 2022 in Melbourne.

Andy Murray said he is concerned for Novak Djokovic’s well-being as the Serb has been confined to a room at a Melbourne hotel used to accommodate asylum seekers in Australia.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic arrived in Melbourne after getting a medical exemption for Covid-19 vaccine but his visa was cancelled upon arrival in the city with the Australian government citing lack of evidence for an exemption.

However, Djokovic, who has challenged his visa cancellation in court, has argued that he sought medical exemption for Covid vaccine as he tested positive for the virus in December 2021.

“I think everyone is shocked by it, to be honest,” former world number one Murray was quoted as saying by local media in Australia.

“I hope that Novak is OK. I know him well, and I’ve always had a good relationship with him and I hope that he’s OK.”

“It’s really not good for tennis at all, and I don’t think it’s good for anyone involved.”

Djokovic, who has publicly criticised mandatory vaccines, has consistently refused to disclose his inoculation status.
Australian Open chief Craig Tiley blamed conflicting and quickly changing directives in a “challenging environment” for the confusion that resulted in Djokovic being refused entry to the country on a medical exemption.

“(I need to) wait and hear exactly what the situation is before commenting on it further, because again I don’t think it’s fair because some of it is speculation,” Murray said.