‘Not great for tennis’: Andy Murray on Varago Novak Djokovic’s visa | Novak Djokovic

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Andy Murray described a re-escalation of Novak Djokovic’s visa saga as “not great for tennis, not great for the Australian Open and not great for Novak,” after leaving the Serbs’ hopes of playing in the first major slams of the year hanging on Friday’s topic.

Murray was one of a number of current and former players who expressed frustration with the continuing situation after Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, exercised his powers to revoke Djokovic’s visa for a second time.

While Djokovic will spend 48 hours before playing his first match on Monday at the Australian Open, being held in a secret location and watching a final hearing to determine his status, Murray will play in his first ATP Final in just over. Two years.

Speaking after Riley Opelka’s defeat in the last four games of the Sydney Classic, a visibly frustrated Murray said of the topic that dominated reinforcements in Melbourne: “It’s a pity that he ended up in this kind of situation… [I] Just want it to be resolved. I think it would be good for everyone if that was the case. It looks like it’s been on for a long time now, and yes, not great for tennis, not great for the Australian Open, not great for Novak.”

Boris Becker, who coached Djokovic from 2013 to 2016, admitted there was “no tennis player greater than the championship” but also told BBC Sport: “It’s a political game he’s been involved in and it’s a pity.”

The announcement at 6pm local time on Friday evening that Djokovic’s visa was revoked again sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Australians believing it was the right decision to stick with the Australian Border Force’s initial decision, the unvaccinated player. He did not meet federal law and must be deported.

However, others lamented the lengthy process which they said allowed the Scott Morrison government to distract from the supply chain related to the pandemic and testing issues.

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Seven-times Grand Slam champion Justin Henin has argued that given most public sentiment appears to favor the government’s decision, Djokovic would be better off going home.

“I think it’s the best thing he’s not playing at the moment,” she said. “When something is too complicated, I wouldn’t say Djokovic doesn’t have to fight, because he thought it was the right thing to do, but I think now it’s been proven that a lot of Australians don’t want him to fight and play. So maybe it’s better. For everyone, for tennis, for the tournament, and maybe for him, that he’s not playing the tournament.”

Respected coach Darren Cahill, who has worked with Andre Agassi and Simona Halep among others, said there were no winners amid the fallout and that the sacrifices of the Australian people in enduring lengthy lockdowns and stringent vaccine mandates should have been prioritized.

“The fault is everywhere here,” Cahill wrote on Twitter. “It was a mess. Novak, ta [Tennis Australia], Vic Gough, Federal Governor. Entering this country should have been difficult considering what the people were through. Get vaccinated and come play AO, or if not, maybe see you at 23. No wiggle room. “

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