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Comment by relyks | Hacker News Reader

Djokovic admitted in a statement on his Instagram page that there was a mistake in his travel documents: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYnO7cDqbdj/

I don't think his statement puts him in the best light. He also admitted that he publicly took an interview when Djokovic knew that he was positive for COVID without giving a heads up to the interviewer. Although it was brief, he also removed his mask. I'm a fan of Djokovic, but that demonstrates either he is reckless or has a poor understanding of how dangerous COVID can be to individuals who aren't elite athletes like himself.

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He did however not address the issue that his positive PCR test was probably falsified. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/does-not-match-dj...

I haven't seen this. Thanks

I wonder how his supporters deal with the fact that, if his test wasn't falsified, then Djokovic's plan for getting into Australia was apparently to catch COVID almost exactly when he claims he did.

I.e., at some point Tennis Australia told Djokovic's team that he would/might get an exemption if he'd had COVID recently. In early December Djokovic hadn't had COVID recently and didn't qualify for any kind of exemption. It is very fortunate for him that he then caught COVID, and in time to recover before the event. In early December Djokovic must have been expecting to NOT compete in the Australian Open, right?

My guess is he expected non-medical sponsored visa as a person of special interest to Australia. And as a 9 time winner, he had every right to at least hope for such case. If political circumstances in Australia were different, and/or if he was less vocal, he just might got it.

Has Australia granted any such exemptions to anyone else?

No. It wouldn't fly in the present climate.

It's not even just about the opinions of the Australian population. Other tennis players have a right to ask why he can get around the rules that even other top players (Nadal, Federer etc) can't avoid. The ATP itself came out saying that players should all be vaccinated, and the only complaint it raised on behalf of Djokovic was over the circumstances that led to him ending up in immigration detention. But with the new details about his activities that have emerged since then, I'd be surprised if they are very combative on his behalf now, given they represent all the male players, not just him.

"mistakes were made"

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