Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic lost his visa dispute in Australia's federal court on Sunday and had to leave the country. International media write
:
French press reviews
"L'Équipe"
: "After the disgrace of Melbourne, the annoyances for Novak Djokovic are not over.
He now has to "digest" it and watch the competition rise in an unusual way."
"Le Figaro"
:
Novak Djokovic has left Australia "extremely disappointed". His already crumbling image has been badly damaged by his mistakes (at best) and lies (at worst). If you can't blame him for refusing a corona vaccination, you can say that the world number one was not behind this decision. Otherwise he would have had to voluntarily refrain from participating in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. He showed extreme stubbornness and his communication wasn't in control. That was too many mistakes for a single man who is already dividing opinion.”
"Libération":
"The future of Djokovic's career now depends on the following question: What role does he give himself in this whole circus?
That of the resister?
That of the guilty and thus that of the penitent of tomorrow?
You will have to understand it without Djokovic doing anything.
He himself will say nothing about it.”
"L'Est Républicain":
"It is simply impossible to feel sorry for Novak Djokovic's volatile Australian fate.
Djokovic has been paralyzed by his own inconsistency.
The worldwide psychodrama that the best tennis player on the planet has foisted on us is ridiculous.”
British press reviews
The Guardian:
"It's been a miserable week for the government but the outcome shows once again that Australia's immigration laws are as tough as they are written."
Italian press reviews
"Corriere dello Sport":
"Djokovic, the race is over: nothing with the Australian Open."
"La Repubblica":
"This is how the telenovela between the Serbian tennis champion and the Australian government ends.
The appeal has upheld the government, which believes he is a public danger because of his anti-vaccination positions, a risk to the public.”
Spanish press reviews
"Marca"
: "Novak Djokovic has lost the match against the Australian government after the Australian Federal Court rejected the appeal of the Serbian tennis player's legal representatives seeking to overturn the visa annulment of the world number one tennis player."
Austrian press reviews
"Kronen Zeitung":
"Djokovic has had a nerve-wracking argument about entry rules that overshadowed the actual reason for his trip to Australia - namely to defend his title at the Australian Open tournament and a new record with the 21st Grand Slam title ever to set up.
The affair about his supposed special treatment not only damaged the image of the tennis player, but also the Australian government.
“Kurier”:
“Entering many countries will be difficult if not impossible for the unvaccinated.
As things stand now, Novak Djokovic could play in Paris at the end of May.
However, it is quite possible that the government in France will gradually take stricter action against those who have not been vaccinated.
If Djokovic also wants to defend his title in Wimbledon from July, this is only possible with a mandatory, ten-day self-monitored home quarantine.
Swiss press reviews
"Blick":
"In the farce about rival Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal is one of the winners.
The Mallorcan can now start the attack on the Grand Slam record.
But he comes from a difficult phase.”
Polish press reviews
"Rzeszpospolita"
: "He played risky and lost"
"Gazeta Wyborcza"
: "So Djokovic will not be playing at the Australian Open for the tenth time. It is not at all clear whether he will ever be back at the Australian Open, because yesterday's court decision on expulsion is linked to an entry ban for three years. It is also uncertain how victories will look like, because the noose around vaccination opponents is tightening in other countries such as France. And opponents of vaccination who lie in the official anti-epidemic forms, like Djokovic when he entered Australia, can expect a bureaucratic and judicial hell in many countries. Why not just get vaccinated? Why does he prefer to lie and squirm? Why is he throwing away his dream of becoming the greatest athlete in the world?”
"Przeglad Sportowy":
"A difficult season lies ahead of Djokovic.
Where will he be able to play and where will he face a fate similar to that in Australia?
Obviously, a lot now depends on his decision to vaccinate.
But don't expect him to suddenly change his mind.
Although that would of course be the simplest solution to most of his problems.”
Russian press reviews
"Kommersant":
"Novak Djokovic flew out.
The tough prelude to the Australian Open ended in Melbourne on Sunday.
It got on the nerves of a lot of people who were directly involved with it - but above all Novak Djokovic.
(...) this was all about political considerations - the risk of anti-vaccination sentiment rising when someone is in Australia who opposed widespread vaccination at the start of the pandemic.
(...) Now Daniil Medvedev is the favorite of the tournament."
"Sport-Express":
"The Serbian star and opponent of vaccination, who hung in the balance for ten days, is leaving the not at all hospitable green continent."