By Al S. Mendoza

 

AS I write this, Novak Djokovic is in trouble.

For one, he is embroiled in a career-crippling scandal due to vaccine issues.

For another, his well-guarded reputation is on public trial following his own confession that he lied about his travel routes and his interviews while being COVID-19 positive.

Who is Novak Djokovic again?

He is the world No. 1 tennis player from Serbia.

He is also the world No. 1 foe of the virus vaccine from the ranks of sports celebrities.

He is due to defend starting tomorrow, Jan. 17, his Australian Open crown—granting he didn’t pull out of the tournament.

The 34-year-old superstar is under extreme pressure of keeping his wits intact amid the myriad problems he’s been facing since last week.

Since his arrival in Melbourne on January 5, his visa was canceled at the airport.

Immigration agents ignored his medical exemption, claiming that that rule applies only to returning residents of Australia and not visitors like Djokovic.

Djokovic was detained at a facility for asylum seekers, immigrants and refugees while he appealed his case.

After five days, a judge ruled in favor of Djokovic.  He restored Djokovic’s revoked visa and ordered his release on January 10.

Immediately, Djokovic plunged to training in a bid to cram for the first of the four Grand Slams of the year.

But while Djokovic thought he was off the hook, the Australian Immigration minister found the Serbian to have listed lies in his entry papers.

Djokovic said he never traveled to another country prior to flying to Australia—a lie he had admitted.

“It was a mistake by my agent, who filled up the form for me,” said Djokovic.

But the Minister wasn’t budging and initiated a visa cancellation again.  The case is pending.

Then Djokovic failed yet another test when he was found to have granted interviews with journalists after he contracted the virus on December 14, 2021.

Australia is one of the countries employing some of the strictest protocols on pandemic measures.

But Tennis Australia, the organizer of the Australian Open that Djokovic had won nine times already, is adamant and, as of press time, is standing by Djokovic.

Even if the Australian government could readily scuttle Tennis Australia’s position, it is using the immigration avenue through the visa platform to pin down Djokovic.

Big money is at stake as the winner of the Aussie Open pockets no less than $1 million.

And a bigger incentive is, if Djokovic wins for the 10th time, he becomes the first ever to win 21 Grand Slams in the modern era.

But there is Rafael Nadal to blunt his mission, though.

The Spaniard has been in Melbourne the last three weeks or so.

Well-trained unlike Djokovic, Nadal, also with 20 Slams tucked under his belt, may yet beat Djokovic to the draw.

And vaccinated unlike Djokovic, Nadal, his mindset as firm as his razor-sharp volley, now has a better view of the 21st major of his career.

Dig deep, Djokovic.

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