Novak Djokovic’s visa canceled for good and out of Australian Open; will his reputation recover?

Australian federal judges upheld the visa cancelation issued by Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Sunday, prompting Novak Djokovic to leave the country that evening.

Novak Djokovic lost his battle to stay in Australia and go for a record tenth Australian Open. As the reigning champ, he will not defend his title as a ‘lucky loser’ will get this spot, with the Australian Open draw to be redone.

The dramatic storyline that has dominated headlines all week came to a sad conclusion once the three judges finished proceedings Sunday—in the wee hours of the night to those following in the U.S.—with border guards escorting the world No. 1 men’s tennis player. Djokovic then boarded a 13-hour Emirates flight EK409 to Dubai late in the evening.

The judges’ decision was unanimous, based on the premise that he posed a greater public health threat, which was a different approach to the paperwork route the first go-around, a cancelation that Djokovic was successfully able to overturn the first time. No such luck the second go-around.

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"“I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open,” Djokovic said in a statement, according to ABC News. “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.”"

The international incident has overshadowed the first grand slam tournament of the year– ironically known as the ‘Happy Slam’– the Australian Open, with Tennis Australia’s Craig Tiley being criticized for granting the exemption in the first place to the nine-time AO champion. Djokovic’s ability to quickly score emergency court hearings—twice!—over refugees who have waited years for such a privilege, has contributed to cries of elitism and privilege that have colored the controversial situation.

More disturbingly, Djokovic’s anti-vaccine attitude was just the tip of the iceberg as much more damaging information also came out throughout the waiting period, including his activities since being diagnosed Positive in December.

He attended two events—including one with children in Belgrade—without proper COVID protocols or isolating. Djokovic claimed that he was not informed about his diagnoses before attending the first event, a ceremony celebrating a namesake stamp in his home country of Serbia, but the timing here is again questionable. However, for the second event, he admitted to an error in judgement in not informing those in attendance and that he should have canceled the event in hindsight.

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His travels to Spain during that time also came under scrutiny, something that he lied about on his immigration forms once he arrived in Melbourne. Throughout, the 34-year-old tennis legend has always chocked up the blunders in judgement to “human errors” or mistakes done by staff members, prompting even greater criticism about his personal responsibility.

Novak Djokovic was pursuing an opportunity to establish himself as the GOAT above the other two players he is in a 20-slam tie with, during the Greatest Era in Men’s Tennis. However, unlike the statesmen Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic has shown himself to be a deeply divisive figure in the world of sport.

Unlike the sterling reputations of the beloved Federer and Nadal—affectionately known as ‘Fedal’ by fans—Djokovic has exhibited a temper on court, the worst case being when he was ousted at the 2020 U.S. Open for hitting a lineswoman with a tennis ball in the neck, out of frustration.

And it’s not the first time the Serbian tennis player has caused a COVID controversy. Back in June 2020 he had held a tennis tournament in Croatia without proper protocols, an effort that seemed to flout the seriousness of the pandemic. Afterwards, several of the participating tennis players were seen partying at a nightclub carelessly. It was no surprise that an outbreak of COVID was detected, with Djokovic and his wife Jelena testing Positive as well.

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The situation in Australia has further cemented Novak Djokovic’s reputation as a pariah in sport. It’s a shame since he has also worked hard to cultivate a more gracious image through his philanthropic efforts with his foundation. He’s also quite good-natured and engaging in person, as so many have noted who have met with him.

But the win-at-all-costs hard-headedness seen in Australia has rubbed the public the wrong way. And it will take a lot to get over the damage done in the twilight of Novak Djokovic’s career.