Tennis star comes out SWINGING at Novak Djokovic claiming he makes vaccinated players 'look like fools'

By Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia 14:50 13 Jan 2022, updated 14:50 13 Jan 2022

Greek heart-throb Stefanos Tsitsipas has been highly critical of Novak Djokovic
World number 4 has declared Djokovic's ugly, ongoing visa saga was avoidable
Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke will decide Djokovic's fate by Friday

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has delivered a scathing assessment surrounding Novak Djokovic and his ongoing visa saga, declaring the world No. 1 has made vaccinated players on tour 'look like fools.'

Tsitsipas, 23, held off getting jabbed for Covid himself until it became a requirement for him to compete at the Australian Open, which starts on January 17.

But it didn't stop him heavily criticising the Serbian superstar, whose recently confirmed he is unvaccinated.

'The stats say 98 per cent of players have been vaccinated and did what they had to do in order to come and perform and play in Australia,' Tsitsipas told Indian network WIO News.

'One side of it is, yeah we've all followed the protocols in order to compete in Australia, we've been very disciplined in that part.

'The other side, I'd say that it kind of seems like not everyone is playing by the rules of how Tennis Australia and the government have been putting things.

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Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas (pictured) has delivered a scathing assessment surrounding Novak Djokovic and his visa saga, declaring the world No. 1 has made vaccinated players on tour 'look like fools'

World number one Novak Djokovic (pictured, with wife Jelena) will likely find out on Friday if he will be deported by Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke - after days of delays

'A very small group chose to follow their own way and it kind of makes the majority look like they're all fools or something.'

Djokovic faces an uncertain wait as to whether he will compete for a record 21st Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park from next week, with the Australian government still to decide if the Serbian will be deported.

The decision rests with Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

Tsitsipas then accused Djokovic of 'playing by his own rules' after the ATP announced specific criteria for players to enter the country last year.

'No one would have really thought I could come to Australia unvaccinated and not having to follow the protocols that they gave me.. it takes a lot of daring to do, and puts a Grand Slam at risk,' he said.

'I don't think many players could do that.'

Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge believes the saga has been exhausting mentally for Djokovic.

Doing so would see the controversial star move past fellow greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with the trio all snaring 20 major titles since turning pro.

'It's very, very visible that it's taking a toll on him,' Woodbridge said.

'You've got to think that when he (Djokovic) goes into his matches, the energy that he's spent even before he hits round one is enormous.'

On Thursday, it was announced the Australian Open will use around 40,000 rapid antigen tests on players, staff and media - but no one yet knows if Djokovic will require even one test.

The polarising athlete is still in limbo as to whether he can compete or not, with his team already planning a court appeal if the immigration minister decides to sensationally cancel his visa.

The tennis star (pictured, training in Melbourne on Tuesday) has now seen his visa cancelled twice since flying in from Dubai

Novak Djokovic (pictured with his wife) is gunning for his 21st Grand Slam title, which would see him surpass fellow legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

The Open was then hit by another unwanted roadblock on Thursday, when the Victorian Government brought in a 50 per cent crowd cap in light of soaring Covid cases in the state.

To keep the competition moving, and though people across the country are finding RATs very hard to come by, the Australian Open has acquired tens of thousands of testing kits.

Each person will have to test negatively on RATs every day of the 14-day tournament.

Mr Hawke is now expected to announce his decision surrounding Djokovic on Friday - the last weekday before the tournament starts on Monday.

Djokovic, 34, has been drawn to play against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in his opening round match.

Key moments in Novak Djokovic's Australian Open bid

By Karen Sweeney in Melbourne for Australian Associated Press

Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic is still focused on defending his Australian Open title and winning a record-breaking 21st men's grand slam tournament but the road to Melbourne has been bumpy and the path is not yet clear.

October/November - Djokovic applies for a temporary visa to enter Australia and compete in the 2022 Australian Open.

November 18 - Granted a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa.

December 14 - Attends a basketball match in Belgrade, Serbia, where attendees contract COVID-19.

December 16 - Djokovic is 'tested and diagnosed' with COVID-19. Documents show he was tested at 1.05pm and the result was returned at 8.19pm.

December 17 - Attends events in Belgrade, including a trophy presentation for junior tennis players. Pictured not wearing a mask and posing side-by-side indoors with a large group of children.

December 18 - Djokovic says he learned of the positive test and cancelled several scheduled events. Goes ahead with an interview and photoshoot with French newspaper L'Equipe, saying he felt 'obliged' because 'I didn't want to let the journalist down'.

December 22 - Returns a negative PCR test.

December 25 - Filmed by a fan playing tennis on a street in Belgrade. He is also photographed alongside Serbian handball player Petar Djordjic.

December 30 - Tennis Australia notify Djokovic he has been granted a temporary medical exemption, allowing him to play in the Australian Open despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19. The exemption was granted on the basis of a previous infection, based on the opinion of one panel of medical experts and reviewed by another.

December 31 - Filmed training at a tennis academy in Sotogrande, Spain. The academy post photos on its Instagram of him posing for pictures with fans a day later.

January 1 - Authorises his agent to complete his Australian Travel Declaration. The document says Djokovic had not travelled in the 14 days prior to his intended arrival in Australia. Later admits the form contained an error in not acknowledging his travel between Serbia and Spain. Djokovic said his agent was notified by the Department of Home Affairs that the declaration had been assessed and he met the requirements for a quarantine-free arrival.

January 2 - Granted a border travel permit by the Victorian government.

January 4 - Announces on Instagram he is 'heading Down Under with an exemption'. The post was made shortly before he departed for Melbourne, via Dubai. News of his impending arrival sparks controversy in Australia.

January 5 - Arrives in Melbourne at 11.30pm.

January 6 - Australian Border Force officials detain Djokovic. After a series of early morning interviews his visa is cancelled at 7.29am. His lawyers are granted a temporary injunction by the Federal Circuit Court. Djokovic is taken to the Park Hotel, which is being used as an immigration detention centre.

January 7 - Spends Orthodox Christmas in his hotel room.

January 10 - After a lengthy hearing, a judge quashes the government's decision to cancel Djokovic's visa after lawyers concede the decision was unreasonable in the circumstances. Judge Anthony Kelly rules Djokovic be paid his costs and freed from immigration detention. Government lawyers note Immigration Minister Alex Hawke still has a personal power to revoke Djokovic's visa.

January 11 - Djokovic posts a photo of himself training at Rod Laver Arena. 'Despite all that has happened in the past week, I want to stay and to try to compete at the Australian Open,' he says. Questions are raised over his Australian Travel Declaration after documents released by the court revealed he answered 'no' to the question about travel in the 14 days before his arrival.

January 12 - Posts a statement on Instagram to correct 'continuing misinformation'. He admits knowingly going through with the L'Equipe interview while positive for Covid-19. He also apologises for the 'administrative mistake' on the travel declaration. Mr Hawke's office say he is still considering whether to exercise his power to revoke Djokovic's visa.

January 13 - The draw for the Australian Open is delayed pending news of Djokovic's visa. When the draw eventually happens at 4.15, he is drawn against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic.