Novak Djokovic
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() (tennis player) | |
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Born | 22 May 1987 Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia |
Nationality | Serbian |
The world's #1 tennis player who spoke out about the COVID-19 Vaccine. An effort to smear him was foiled when the model concerned blew the whistle, stating that she was offered 60,000 euros to seduce him. |
Novak Djokovic is a top tennis player who spoke out about the COVID-19 Vaccine. Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Australian Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the coronavirus pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.
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Against mandatory vaccination
In April 2020 in a Facebook live stream with other Serbian athletes Djokovic said that he opposed mandatory vaccination before return to the tennis circuit:
“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know."[1]
Reported smear attempt
“It is true that a guy contacted me. I know him from the city [of London] and I considered him a serious guy. I am familiar with their work and they were good. When he asked me for a date, I thought it was for a business matter. However, as the conversation progressed, I saw that it had nothing to do with my life. I thought it was a hidden camera when he told me that I had to seduce Novak and film it, but not to worry about that because he was already taking care of that. He told me I could get about 60,000 euros for that and a trip wherever I wanted. I laughed, expecting him to say it was a joke, but the man was very serious. I felt very offended and humiliated.”
Natalija Scekic (21 March 2021) [2]
Serbian model Natalija Scekic reported that she was offered 60,000 Euros to seduce Novak Djokovic in an effort by someone she knew from the city of London to ruin his reputation.[3]
2022 Australian Open
In January 2022, three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic was one of "a handful" of players and staff to be granted a medical exemption from mandatory COVID-19 vaccination by Tennis Australia and the Department of Health of the state government of Victoria.
Djokovic travelled to Melbourne on 5 January but was detained by the Australian Border Force after they determined he did not meet the entry requirements for an unvaccinated traveller. His visa was cancelled and he was held in an immigration detention hotel for several days awaiting a court hearing. It was later revealed that Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19 on 16 December 2021 which was used as the basis for his exemption. Djokovic stated that he was notified of the positive test on 17 December and admitted that he did not isolate afterwards, attending an interview and photo shoot.
On 10 January, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia ruled in favour of Djokovic, ordering his release and awarding costs.[4]
On 14 January 2022, Alex Hawke, the Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, exercised his ministerial powers under the Migration Act 1958 to cancel Djokovic's visa, citing "health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so". An appeal against the decision was launched, with a hearing due to be held on 16 January prior to Djokovic's scheduled first match on the next day. His lawyers' basis for the appeal is the belief that Hawke's decision was based on anti-vaccination concerns rather than it being in the public good.[5]
On 16 January 2022, Novak Djokovic's appeal was rejected and he departed Australia on an Emirates flight bound for Dubai.[6]
References
- ↑ "Novak Djokovic says he opposes coronavirus vaccination"
- ↑ https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/2021/03/21/605759a3e2704e43238b457f.html
- ↑ https://www.rt.com/sport/518783-djokovic-serbian-model-claims-sex-tape-plot/
- ↑ "Djokovic’s fate in minister’s hands after court quashes visa ban"
- ↑ "Novak Djokovic fights Australia visa ruling as legal team launch appeal against deportation"
- ↑ "Novak Djokovic has been deported from Australia after losing visa battle in court"