Fans react to news of Novak Djokovic's Australian Open return

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• By Avi Yemini

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News that tennis ace Novak Djokovic will be allowed to contest next year’s Australian Open, has garnered a mixed reaction from the public 

after he was controversially booted from the country last year.

News.com.au reported it believed the three-year-ban imposed on Djokovic earlier this year because of his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine would be overturned sending social media into a spin on Tuesday night.

Novak Djokovic should have never been banned.

It was a shameful moment in our history.

He’s proven to be an absolute legend on and off the court.

Welcome to Australia, champ.

You’re more loved here than those who stopped you from entering.

— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) November 15, 2022

The nine-time Australian Open winner was sensationally denied a visa after arriving to compete at the Melbourne tournament in January.

Former Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelled his visa “on health and good order grounds”, claiming that Djokovic was a risk because he might influence people’s views negatively about the vaccine.

The tournament went ahead without the reigning champion and was won by his archrival Rafael Nadal.

Every Serb in Australia, Novak Djokovic fan and person who was on the right side of history since 2020 should be doing everything to get an Australian Open 2023 ticket.

Give him the hero's welcome he deserves and drown out anybody who dares boo. https://t.co/4reDFPnVSz

— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) November 15, 2022

Some called for a "hero's welcome" for Djokovic after the way he was treated by Australian authorities due to his vaccination status, especially in light of new findings about the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccination and new reports of side-effects and warnings related to vaccination.

3 year ban! 😂 https://t.co/bkwkVpyXl0

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) November 15, 2022

Others took aim at the mainstream media for its biased coverage of the fiasco which dented Australia's reputation on the national stage.

And, don’t forget that the bulk of the media cheered on this lunacy. They wanted @DjokerNole punished. pic.twitter.com/J6iQm83Taw

— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) November 13, 2022

Djokovic allowed back into Australia in January 🤣🤣🤣

Novak has the last laugh. What an absolute debacle of a nation Australia is.#AusOpen

— Daniel (@Dulzz83) November 15, 2022

New Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was expected to grant Djokovic a visa, allowing him the opportunity to win a record tenth championship at Melbourne Park.

“There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing,” Australian Open director Craig Tiley said this week.

“I don’t think there should be any preferential treatment for anyone. But I fully expect to have an answer for everyone by the time that they need to book their flights and come in, including Novak.”

“I’m confident they’ll reach some arrangement and hopefully it’s positive.”

Djokovic told Serbian website Sportal that he was desperate to return to Australia.

“I really want to go there,” he said.

“I am over what happened this year and I just want to play tennis. Australia has always been the place where I have played my best tennis, the results speak for themselves, so I am always extra motivated to go there. This time even more so.”