Reactions from all around the world poured in after Novak Djokovic faced at least 72 hours holed up in a Melbourne hotel for immigration detainees after he was denied entry into Australia on Thursday amid a political firestorm over his medical exemption.
Australian Border Force Statement
"Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled.
"Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry, or who have had their visa cancelled, will be detained and removed from Australia."
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison
"Djokovic's visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules.
"Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant."
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Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia
"I told our Novak that the whole of Serbia is with him and that our bodies are doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end immediately.
"In line with all norms of international law, Serbia will fight for Novak, truth and justice. Novak is strong, as we all know."
Srdjan Djokovic, Djokovic's father
"They're keeping him in captivity. They're stomping all over Novak to stomp all over Serbia and Serbian people."
Rafael Nadal
"Of course I don't like the situation that is happening. In some way, I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision."
Andy Roddick, Former World Number One
"No individual gets to decide the rules for other countries... as you spout off about liberty, I wouldn't let that small detail go by the wayside."
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Daniil Medvedev, U.S. Open Champion
"If he had a fair exemption from the rule, well, he should be here; if he didn't, he shouldn't be here."
Former Australian Open Chief Executive Paul McNamee
"For those asking, all players go through the same visa process overseen by Tennis Australia to play the Australian Open (as non Australians are currently not able to enter). So it beggars belief that Djokovic is the only player that has had his visa granted and then rescinded."
Sergiy Stakhovsky, Ukranian Tennis Player
"When next time somebody will tell you 'Sports is not interfering with politics' you remember the 6Jan2022 when purely political 'ego' is not allowing best tennis player in the world to enter the country to which ... 'governmental institutions' granted entry."
Tennys Sandgren, USA Tennis Player
"Just to be crystal clear here, two separate medical boards approved his exemption. And politicians are stopping it. Australia doesn't deserve to host a grand slam."
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Brad Gilbert, Former USA Tennis Player
"If (Djokovic) is not allowed to play definitely the others that got medical exemptions should get the same."
Nick Kyrgios, Australian Tennis Player
"How we are handling Novak’s situation is bad, really bad."
John Isner, American Tennis Player
What Novak is going through right now is not right. There’s no justification for the treatment he’s receiving.
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