Djokovic Opens Up About Being "Villain of the World" During Australian Open Saga

| by Alex Waite

Novak Djokovic has shed light on the opposition he faced after he was denied entry to compete in the 2022 Australian Open.

Ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, the nation was still amid the COVID-19 pandemic and was easing out of a lengthy lockdown period. Moreover, the country's government had strict entry rules based on vaccination status, yet Djokovic was initially given an exemption to compete in Melbourne, despite not having the COVID-19 vaccine.

A huge public response unfolded to Djokovic's original exemption, and he was detained until a resolution was found. Eventually, the Serbian player was deported and when speaking to CBS News about the ordeal, Djokovic explained that, although he always faced opposition in his tennis career, this experience was heightened to another level.

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"I was basically declared as a villain of the world. And I had basically, yeah, most of the world against me. I had that kind of experience on the tennis court with, with crowds that were not maybe cheering me on. 

"But I never had this particular experience before in my life. But the point is that it was not up to me to read anybody. I got the exemption. I got permission to come into the country. And so, of course, it escalated to the highest of the highest levels globally."

Djokovic's decision not to get the COVID-19 vaccine also affected his participation in other nations during the 2022 season. The 36-year-old was also banned from entering the United States due to the nation's laws against entry for non-vaccinated American citizens.

Despite causing widespread controversy for his decision not to get vaccinated, Djokovic bounced back in 2023. When he returned to play in this year's Australian Open, the Serbian won the competition before heading back to the US Open in 2023 and winning his record 24th Grand Slam.

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