WTA: Vourakova from Australia made no mistake
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) considered that Czech player Renata Vorakova "did not do anything wrong" after she was detained for the same "unfortunate" reasons as the Serbian Novak Djokovic, the first seed, and deported from Australia.
The visas of both Vorakova and Djokovic, who are not vaccinated against the Corona virus, were canceled last week after they obtained a medical exemption from the organizers of the Australian Open.
The player was initially allowed to enter the country and even played a doubles match at Melbourne's pre-season tournament for the first Grand Slam that begins next Monday.
But she was then detained in the Melbourne passenger terminal with Djokovic by a decision of the Australian authorities for not meeting the medical conditions.
While Vorakova, 38, left the country on Saturday, Djokovic stayed and won his case in court, although the fate of his participation is still pending.
The WTA considered that all players should be vaccinated and showed their support for Australia's immigration laws.
"However, the complications that have occurred over the past few days as female athletes have followed the approved and authorized procedures to obtain a medical exemption to enter the country are unfortunate," she said in a statement.
And she added, "Renata Vorakova followed the instructions and procedures, and she was allowed to enter upon her arrival, she participated in a course and then her visa was suddenly canceled while she did nothing wrong." On Tuesday, Vurakova said she would seek compensation from the Australian Football Association and tournament organizers, "and it will not be small".
"The ticket alone is 60,000 CZK ($2,800) and my coach traveled with me. There are also hotel expenses, training for the Grand Slam and possible financial prizes," she said in an interview with the newspaper "Denek" upon her return to the capital Prague.
"I hope Tennis Australia is up to that and we don't have to take legal steps," she added.
And about her detention, she commented, "I don't think about tennis. I'm still in shock, I don't understand yet. I'm exhausted," adding, "I would never have imagined that this would happen even in my worst nightmare. It was so hard, as if I was watching a movie." Long interrogations and orders like 'take off your clothes, get dressed.' I don't even want to think about it."
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