Tennis: You’ve been served

January 14, 2022
The GIST: Another day, another update to the (yes, still) ongoing Novak Djokovic–Australian Open drama. Trust us, we’re over it, too.
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Tennis: You’ve been served
AUSTRALIAN OPEN/TWITTER

The GIST: Another day, another update to the (yes, still) ongoing Novak Djokovic–Australian Open drama. Trust us, we’re over it, too.

Driving the news: Four days after Djokovic’s visa was reinstated (after initially being canceled for failure to meet the country’s entry requirements), Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his personal power to deport the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Aussie Open on Friday evening, Australia time. Crikey!

  • In a statement, Hawke said that he canceled the visa, “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.” With the decision, Hawke sided with the 83% of Australians who wanted Djokovic out of the country.
  • The Joker now likely faces a three-year ban on obtaining a new Australian visa. While he can technically launch another appeal, we have a feeling this is it.
  • Djokovic confirmed that he made a false declaration on his travel form (blaming his agent in the process) and that he knowingly met with the public after testing positive for COVID-19 last month. Yeah, that’s a nope from us.

The women’s draw: While the men’s side deals with this off-court mess, we’re not so patiently waiting for the women’s on-court action. The biggest outcome from yesterday’s draw release is that No. 1 Ash Barty and No. 13 Naomi Osaka could meet in the fourth round. Please don’t make us pick a side…

  • As for our Canadian contenders, No. 23 Leylah Fernandez has a clear path to the later rounds, but she could run up against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth. But with all of Canada (including lululemon) on her side, we’re not worried.