Anyone for tennis?

Novak Djokovic.

I've never had a good word to say for him. Despite loving tennis I've never taken to him; I can admire his achievements but I don't like his style of play, I don't like his gamesmanship where he has an injury time-out if he wants to unsettle his opponent and, as for his over the top "heart-throwing" gesture to the crowd when he wins, well... pass the sick bucket. In short, I can't stand the bloke.

But.

He knows his own mind and he's standing up against the dystopian rules and regulations surrounding Covid... and for that I applaud him. I admire him for not kowtowing to misguided authority.

It seems he hasn't been jabbed - fine, his choice - so he applied for a jab exemption, apparently because he'd had Covid in December 2021. He clearly had the right paperwork to allow him to get on the plane... so how did it somehow turn into the wrong paperwork by the time he got off?!

Sportspeople are generally banned for taking drugs, but we've now reached the point of peak stupidity where they can be banned for not taking drugs! 

If Australia doesn't want un-jabbed people... it's quite simple, don't issue exemptions. Oh, but of course they do want the cash and the kudos of holding an international tennis tournament, despite having their own citizens locked down for months and not allowing anyone (even triple jabbed!) to enter the country to visit a dying relative. 

I sincerely hope Djokovic doesn't buckle and just up and leave - I really want the Australian Govt to be forced to have to deport him tomorrow, thereby confirming their status as paranoid idiots. Or... will they allow him to stay because he's box-office and this debacle has given them more publicity and exposure than they could ever have hoped for? 

The whole thing stinks - it's a really nasty piece of political posturing but, as is always the case... if you want something really fouled up, ask a politician to deal with it.

Update 10.1.22:

Djokovic 1 - Australia 0 Yessss!!

They could still cancel his visa a second time (why?!) but, for now, Novak has the high ground. I'm thrilled that the bullying Australian Govt has been put in its place.

Update 15.1.22:

As predicted, the brainless Australian Govt has cancelled Novak's visa for the second time! He's back in detention and there'll be a court hearing on Sunday morning, local time, to decide whether he's able to stay and play tennis.

They'll probably turf him out - I can't see the Australian Govt allowing their authority (and deep-seated paranoia!) to be challenged like this.

I'm gutted that not a single one of his fellow professionals has come out in his defence... on the contrary, in fact, the ones who have spoken have been subtly putting the knife in. Just goes to show... you soon find out who your friends are. 

Apologies, I forgot Nick Kyrgios - a really decent bloke who's just about the only one on Novak's side.