Novak Djokovic threatens to UNLEASH his ‘version’ of the visa debacle Down Under as he fronts press conference with Serbian president
- Tennis pro has enjoyed a hero’s welcome since being back in his native Serbia
- He was booted out of Australia due to not being vaccinated against Covid
- The star had hoped to secure his record 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open
- Djokovic fronted world’s media along with the Serbian president on Thursday
- Has vowed to give his ‘version’ of what happened during ‘unfortunate events’
Novak Djokovic described his detention and deportation from Australia that prevented him from defending his Australian Open title as an ‘unfortunate event’ and thanked the Serbian president for his support.
An 11-day saga over Djokovic’s entry visa ended with the Serb being deported for failing to meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
The top-ranked tennis star met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday and described the events in Australia as ‘unexpected, to say the least.’
‘I wanted to meet with you today because, primarily as a citizen of Serbia, I felt a great need to thank you for great support that you, as the president of Serbia, gave me, as well as all state institutions during the unfortunate events in Australia,’ Djokovic said.
Novak Djokovic (pictured meeting the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday) has promised to give his ‘version’ of what happened in Australia
The tennis champion (pictured at Melbourne Airport on his way out of Australia on January 16) had his visa cancelled during a drawn-out legal battle
‘Although I was alone in detention, and faced with many problems and challenges, I wasn’t feeling lonely. I had huge support primarily from my family, all of the close people in my life, entire Serbian nation, many people with good intentions from the region and the world.’
He did not speak about details of the events in Australia, promising to give his ‘version’ later.
Djokovic’s meeting with the increasingly autocratic Vucic drew criticism from some of his fans in the Balkan country, where he is generally considered an icon and a hero. The critics say Vucic used the event to boost his popularity ahead of general elections scheduled for April.
The meeting happened a day after Serbia’s state prosecutors rejected suggestions voiced by some Western media that Djokovic used a fake positive test for COVID-19 to try to enter Australia.
Djokovic (pictured at his Thursday press conference with the Serbian president) described what happened in Australia as ‘unfortunate’
The tennis star was greeted back a band of excited fans back in Serbia (pictured on January 17)
Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic is seen deep in conversation with the tennis star on Thursday (pictured)
To enter Australia, Djokovic submitted a positive test issued in Serbia on December 16 for a visa exemption on the grounds that he had recently recovered from the virus.
He is not vaccinated, and the Australian government later decided to cancel his visa and deport Djokovic, saying his presence in Australia could stir anti-vaccination sentiments.
Djokovic’s rival, Rafael Nadal, won the Australian Open for a record 21st men’s Grand Slam singles title. Djokovic and Roger Federer have 20 major titles.
Vucic praised Djokovic and said he was certain he will beat Nadal and Federer at the coming French Open and Wimbledon — the Grand Slams where Djokovic could also face restrictions if he doesn’t get vaccinated.
Djokovic is seen with his team at Melbourne Airport on January 16 on his way out of Australia after his visa was cancelled
Serbians (pictured surrounding the star after he returned home) did not react kindly to the treatment of their homegrown star
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