KEY POINTS

  • Australian Open 2023 is scheudled to begin on Jan. 16
  • This year, Djokovic was not allowed to defend his title
  • The former World No. 1 was deported for refusing COVID-19 vaccination

Tennis Australia has confirmed that it won't offer any support to Novak Djokovic should he seek a visa to enter the country for the Melbourne Grand Slam in 2023.

In January earlier this year, Djokovic could not defend his title, which was eventually won by Rafael Nadal. Two medical panels and Tennis Australia had initially granted Djokovic a medical exemption from the strict COVID-19 vaccination rules so he can play in the Australian Open. But the Australian Border Force rejected the exemption after Djokovic traveled to Melbourne believing he had all the paperwork in order.

After a 10-day legal saga, Australia revoked the unvaccinated Djokovic's visa on the eve of the tournament and deported him from the country.

However, the former World No. 1 player's vaccination status remains unchanged with the hard-court tournament being just a few months away.

Tennis Australia's CEO Craig Tiley has said he has not spoken to government officials about Djokovic's visa situation.

"It is not a matter we can lobby on. It is a matter that definitely stays between the two of them. And then, depending on the outcome, we would welcome him to the Australian Open," Tiley, who is also the Australian Open's director, said, referring to Djokovic and the Australian government, at a launch for the 2023 event Wednesday.

Before the visa revocation, the 35-year-old was allowed to practice at Melbourne Park after some initial success in a court of law, but Australia's Immigration Minister Alex Hawke in the end used discretionary powers to cancel the Serbian player's visa on character grounds, stating he was a "talisman of a community of anti-vaccine sentiment."

As the Australian Open began on Monday, Novak Djokovic arrived in Dubai after being deported
Novak Djokovic arrives in Dubai after being deported from Australia AFPTV / STR

The deportation meant, Djokovic could be facing a possible three-year exclusion, meaning he could be denied a further temporary visa. However, the Australian Border Force in January said any exclusion period "will be considered as part of any new visa application and can be waived in certain circumstances."

Djokovic was allowed to play in just two out of the four Grand Slams this year: Roland Garros and Wimbledon. While he was eliminated from the French Open following a loss in the semi-final, Djokovic went on to win the Wimbledon, taking his major titles tally to 21, one behind Nadal.

Australian Open is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2023, at Melbourne Park, and will go on till Jan. 29.