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TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Novak Djokovic of Team Serbia reacts at match point to be defeated by Pablo Carreno Busta of Team Spain during the Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)
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TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Novak Djokovic of Team Serbia reacts at match point to be defeated by Pablo Carreno Busta of Team Spain during the Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)
The events taking place in Melbourne, surrounding World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, have captivated the entire tennis world. In fact, it seems to be all that anyone can talk about, and rightly so.
Border forces immediately detained the 20-time Grand Slam champion after he landed in Melbourne. Moreover, they also canceled his Australian visa and threatened him with prompt deportation.
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Novak’s refusal to reveal his vaccination status over the past year is the reason behind the entire situation. Novak’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, called for a takeover of the streets if border forces didn’t let Novak go.
Andy Roddick calls for patience in Novak Djokovic situation
Much like everyone else in the tennis world, former World No. 1 Andy Roddick has opined on the situation as well. He calls for patience, asking people to wait for “clarity from all sides.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 31. Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia shakes hands with Andy Roddick (L) of the United States after defeating him in the second round of Men’s Singles Tennis on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wimbledon on July 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Roddick’s advice for patience was in direct response to Srdjan Djokovic‘s call for a takeover of the streets in protest. Furthermore, he also pointed out how a lot of the initial media reports were false or incomplete.
“Lots of early reporting has already been shot down,” Roddick wrote. “Let (us) not be in a rush to form opinions,” the former US Open champion suggested on Twitter. Additionally, he also called the entire situation avoidable.
We need to wait until we get clarity from all sides. Lots of early reporting has already been shot down. Let not be in a rush to form opinions. Bad situation that could’ve been easily avoided. I do feel confident that the solution isn’t going to the streets to fight https://t.co/Z2IktAn1vU
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 6, 2022
As per Andy, everything that has happened with Novak Djokovic is a “bad situation that could’ve been easily avoided.”
“I do feel confident that the solution isn’t going to the streets to fight,” he said. It is clear that the American tennis star is in favor of letting the situation play out at its pace.
Border patrol isolated Djokovic in a room, without his team or phone
According to reports from local Australian media, border forces, after detaining Djokovic, put him alone in a room. In fact, if the reports are correct, they also confiscated the Serbian’s mobile phone.
Furthermore, they also impeded any sort of communication between Novak and his team by putting them in separate areas.
Novak Djokovic’s father speaking about Novak’s detention in Melbourne Airport: 🗣
“They are holding my son captive. If they don’t release him in the next half an hour we will fight them on the street.”
Wow. 😳😅 pic.twitter.com/Q8ZoP0wz9T
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) January 5, 2022
Now, only time will tell if how accurate these reports are. Additionally, the whole tennis fraternity is watching on with bated breath about how this situation plays out.
WATCH THIS STORY: US Open Disqualification to No Entry at Australian Open: Novak Djokovic’s Biggest Controversies
