Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley says he is not going to foyer the federal authorities on Novak Djokovic’s behalf to attempt to assist him into the nation for January’s Australian Open.
He additionally revealed on Wednesday that TA has engaged exterior immigration specialists to assist cope with the excessive variety of visa purposes anticipated from international gamers and their entourages for the primary grand slam of 2023.
Djovokic is topic to a three-year ban from coming into Australia, imposed by former immigration minister Alex Hawke due to his Covid-19 vaccination standing. He was deported earlier than this yr’s match on the premise his presence as a “talisman of anti-vaccination sentiment” would possibly danger “civil unrest”.
Nevertheless, the 21-time main champion can apply for an exemption from Hawke’s Labor successor, Andrew Giles, and Djokovic mentioned final month he was ready for “constructive information” from Australian authorities.
It’s a prospect that former house affairs minister Karen Andrews this week mentioned can be a “slap within the face” for vaccinated Australians.
Tiley was closely criticised in January over Tennis Australia’s position in permitting Djokovic to fly to Melbourne below the assumption {that a} medical exemption authorized by the governing physique and a Victorian authorities unbiased knowledgeable panel can be ample to enter Australia.
This time round, he mentioned he would don’t have any involvement within the destiny of the nine-time Australian Open winner, who was additionally barred from coming into this yr’s US Open.
“What we’re saying at this level is that Novak and the federal authorities must work out the state of affairs, after which we’ll comply with any instruction after that,” Tiley mentioned at Wednesday’s Australian Open launch.
“I did spend a while with Novak on the Laver Cup. We spoke usually. He mentioned that he’d clearly love to return again to Australia however he is aware of it’s going to be an final choice for the federal authorities.
“He’s accepted that place. It’s a non-public matter between them. It’s not a matter we are able to foyer on.”
Tiley, who can be the match director, mentioned he has had no communication with the federal authorities about Djokovic however added that his eligibility would “ideally” be resolved quickly, with the December software deadline looming.
Melbourne Park officers are getting ready for a hike within the variety of purposes from international gamers and their assist workers, and Tiley mentioned TA had employed a “a third-party useful resource” to deal with visas.
“Bringing on further exterior sources will assist streamline the method transferring ahead,” he mentioned. “Absolute Immigration is the title of the organisation and that is their experience.
“The appliance of the visa is instantly between the applicant and the federal authorities, and so they grant that visa on the premise of that software. However that course of is pretty vital when you will have a lot of individuals throughout a brief time frame.”
Tiley introduced Russian and Belarusian gamers, who had been controversially banned from contesting this yr’s Wimbledon, will probably be allowed to compete on the Australian Open as neutrals in the identical method because the French Open and US Open.
“At this level, Russian and Belarusian gamers will probably be eligible to play within the Australian Open,” he mentioned. “The one distinction will probably be that they can not signify Russia, can not signify the flag of Russia.
“They can’t take part in any exercise such because the anthem of Russia and so they should play as unbiased gamers below a impartial title. However they are going to be welcome to the Australian Open in January.”
