Djokovic To Be Allowed To Play Next Australian Open – Tennis 

Former world number one, Novak Djokovic, would be allowed to play in next year’s Australian Open, according to sources close to the Australian government. Djokovic, who was handed a three-year ban from entering Australia earlier this year, has had his ban overturned by the Australian government and will be granted a visa to allow him travel and compete in the tournament. 

Back in January, Djokovic was deported from Australia and given a three-year visa ban after entering the country without being vaccinated. Although the Serbian is still unvaccinated, he would be returning to Australia next year, and things are expected to go smoothly for him when he arrives in the country. 

Djokovic has insisted that he would not be coerced into taking the vaccine, adding that he would rather skip events instead. Two months ago, Djokovic was missing from the US Open, as the US had a strict travel policy denying entry to the unvaccinated. 

According to the Australian Open director, he was not expecting any preferential treatment for Djokovic while awaiting a formal decision from the government. He said: “There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing. 

“I don’t think there should be any preferential treatment for anyone. But I fully expect to have an answer for everyone by the time that they need to book their flights and come in, including Novak.

“That’s entirely up to the Australian government. I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.”

The nine-times Australian Open winner was denied the chance to defend his title this year, with Spaniard Rafael Nadal taking the title instead. But it is expected that Djokovic would be the favorite going into the event. 

Leon Osamor