(AP) — BRISBANE, Australia — Novak Djokovic's chances of winning his 10th Australian Open championship were put in jeopardy on Thursday after the government denied him entrance and terminated his visa after he failed to fulfill the standards for a COVID-19 vaccine exemption.
Djokovic, the world No. 1, stated on social media on Tuesday that he received "exemption approval," and he arrived in Australia late Wednesday with a medical exemption from Victoria's state government, which was likely to exempt him from the tournament's stringent vaccine requirements.
conference. "You'll need a medical exemption." He didn't have a medical exemption that was legitimate. We make the decision at the border, and it is enforced there."
Djokovic's medical exemption was reviewed by border authorities, who looked "at the integrity and the facts behind it," according to Health Minister Greg Hunt.
"If a visa is canceled, someone will have to leave the country," he added, adding that Djokovic was allowed to appeal the decision.