Djokovic's Australian visa denied The prospects for the Australian Open are bleak

Sydney, January 6 (Xinhua) -- After arriving at Melbourne Airport in Australia on the evening of the 5th, Djokovic, the number one male singles player in the world tennis world, was denied entry and subsequently cancelled his Australian visa, and also faced the possibility of being forced to leave the country.

Australian Prime Minister Morrison confirmed the news on social media on the 6th. Morrison said Djokovic's visa had been cancelled and that no one could override the rules when it came to entry.

At a subsequent press conference, Morrison said Dzokovic must provide "satisfactory proof" that he was unable to be vaccinated against COVID-19 due to a medical condition, and that "if the proof is insufficient, he will not be treated differently from others and he will take the next flight home – there should be no special rules for Djokovic".

The Australian border protection department also issued a brief statement on the 6th, saying that Djokovic failed to provide suitable materials that met Australia's entry requirements, and his visa was subsequently cancelled. Border Services also stressed that non-Australian citizens who do not hold a valid entry visa or whose visa has been cancelled will be deported.

According to Australian media reports, Djokovic was previously detained at Melbourne Airport for more than 8 hours. He is currently in a hotel under the watchful eye of the border service, and his lawyer may appeal. Djokovic may need to leave Australia as early as the evening of the 6th.

The Australian Open "Nine Champions" This year's Australian Open trip can be described as a twist and turn. Previously, the State of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, required all athletes participating in major events to complete the full covid-19 vaccination, and Djokovic has been refusing to disclose his vaccination status. Although Djokovic's subsequent application for a vaccination exemption was approved, it also caused great controversy in Australia. The denial of the visa has once again made the prospects for the Serbians to compete in this year's Australian Open extremely uncertain. (End)