Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20220107

A31
sports Diabierna 7 Januari 2022

Why was Novak Djokovic not let into Australia?

(AP) - Novak Djokovic nis players” and would only an exemption — announced
came within one victory be possible in “exceptional first by him via social media,
of sweeping all four of last circumstances if you have an then by Tennis Australia via
year’s Grand Slam tennis acute medical condition.” press release — was not ex-
tournaments and entered actly greeted warmly in Mel-
2022 needing one title to Tennis Australia said Djokov- bourne, where most people
set the men’s record of 21 ic’s request for an exemption endured months of strict
major championships. “was granted following a rig- lockdowns and harsh travel
orous review process involv- restrictions at the height of
He might not get the chance ing two separate independent the pandemic. More than
to pursue that mark at the panels of medical experts.” 90% of Victoria state residents
Australian Open when play Neither Tennis Australia nor aged 12 and over are fully
begins in Melbourne on Jan. Djokovic revealed the reason vaccinated. The about-face
17. he sought an exemption. on Djokovic’s status upon his
arrival was, not surprisingly,
That’s because, even though Australian Open tournament objected to by Serbian Presi-
Djokovic, a 34-year-old from director Craig Tiley said a to- dent Aleksandar Vucic, who Djokovic is on the precipice office, the U.S. Tennis Asso-
Serbia, was granted a medi- tal of 26 players or support called it “harassment.” of history, one Grand Slam ciation did require that spec-
cal exemption to get around a staff applied for exemptions trophy away from finally tators show they had at least
COVID-19 vaccine require- and a “handful” were grant- Is Djokovic vaccinated? Has overtaking rivals Roger Fe- one shot).
ment for all players and their ed. Among the acceptable he had COVID-19? derer and Rafael Nadal for
support teams at the hard- grounds were acute major While Djokovic has stead- the most in the history of Are most tennis players vac-
court tournament, his visa medical conditions, serious fastly refused to explicitly say men’s tennis. Entering the cinated?
for entry into Australia was adverse reaction to a previous whether or not he received 2011 season, Federer owned At least two others, Tennys
revoked in the early hours dose of a COVID-19 vaccine any shots to protect against 16 major titles, Nadal nine Sandgren and Pierre-Hu-
of Thursday, local time, after or evidence of a COVID-19 the coronavirus, he would and Djokovic one. gues Herbert, are sitting out
he was detained at the airport infection within the previous not have needed an exemp- the Australian Open because
for about eight hours. He six months. tion to enter Australia if he Now each has 20. Djokovic, they are not vaccinated. A
was put into an immigration were fully vaccinated. who last year eclipsed Feder- spokeswoman for the wom-
detention hotel and faces de- If he had an exemption, why er’s mark for the most career en’s professional tennis tour
portation. His lawyers have was Djokovic prevented from In April 2020, he issued a weeks at No. 1 in the men’s said Wednesday that 85% of
challenged the visa ruling in entering Australia? statement saying: “Personally rankings, already owns nine the WTA’s top 100 players are
court. When he landed at the air- I am opposed to the vaccina- Australian Open champion- fully vaccinated; a spokesman
port, the Australian Border tion against COVID-19 in ships, the men’s record. for the men’s professional
Here’s a look at some of the Force canceled Djokovic’s order to be able to travel. But tour tweeted late last month
issues surrounding Djokov- visa, saying he “failed to pro- if it becomes compulsory, I Must tennis players be vac- that the ATP’s top 100 vacci-
ic’s attempt to play in the vide appropriate evidence will have to make a decision cinated to play in all tourna- nation figure was 95%.
Australian Open: to meet the entry require- whether to do it, or not.” Two ments?
ments.” Prime Minister Scott months later, he and his wife No. In tennis, such mandates So is this whole episode over?
The state government for Morrison tweeted, “No one tested positive for the illness come from national, state or Doubtful. Djokovic has
Victoria, where Melbourne is above these rules,” and lat- caused by the coronavirus local governments, and this launched legal action in Aus-
Park is located, mandated full er said at a news conference after a series of exhibition is the first time it’s come tralia’s Federal Circuit Court
vaccinations for all players, that Djokovic’s exemption matches he organized with into play at a tournament. At against the cancellation of his
staff and fans at the Austra- wasn’t valid but did not ex- no social distancing or mask- the last Grand Slam event, visa, and that has so far pre-
lian Open unless there is a plain the details. ing. for example, the U.S. Open vented his deportation. He
genuine medical reason. Vic- in New York in August and is staying in an immigration
toria state Deputy Premier What has been the reaction in Why is this australian open September, players and their detention hotel ahead of a
James Merlino said medical Australia? And in Serbia? important for Djokovic? And team members did not need scheduled hearing on Mon-
exemptions would not be “a The news that Djokovic was why is he important for the to be vaccinated (but, after day.
loophole for privileged ten- on his way to Australia with tournament? prompting from the mayor’s

Antonio Brown says he was forced to play injured by Bucs

(AP) — Antonio Brown cut after refusing to play Monday showed broken coach to play injured,” he “He then ordered me to get
says he didn’t quit on the through an ankle injury bone fragments, a ligament said. “Despite the pain, I suit- on the field. I said, `Coach,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers that sidelined him for sev- tear and cartilage loss “which ed up, the staff injected me I can’t.′ He didn’t call for
during the middle of a eral weeks this season. are beyond painful. You can with what I now know was medical attention. Instead,
game, but rather he was see the bone bulging from a powerful and sometimes he shouted at me, `YOU’RE
The oft-troubled wide re- the outside.” dangerous painkiller that the DONE!′ while he ran his
ceiver, who took off his jersey, NFLPA has warned against finger across his throat.
shoulder pads and undershirt Arians said the day after the using, and I gave it my all for Coach was telling me that if
before walking off the side- game that Brown did not the team. I played until it was I didn’t play hurt, then I was
line during a game Sunday claim he was injured when he clear that I could not use my done with the Bucs.”
against the New York Jets, refused to continue playing ankle to safely perform my
said in a statement released against the Jets. The coach playing responsibilities. Although Arians said after
by his attorney that he was declined to discuss specifics the game that Brown was no
pressured to play and coach of the conversation on the “On top of that, the pain longer a part of the reigning
Bruce Arians fired him when sideline and said he had “no was extreme. I took a seat on Super Bowl champions, the
the player told the coach he clue” why the receiver react- the sideline and my coach 33-year-old receiver who’s
was not able to re-enter the ed by storming off the field, came up to me, very upset, caught a pass in his last 144
game because of his ankle. tossing some of his gear into and shouted, `What’s wrong games remained on the roster
the stands and waving to fans with you? What’s wrong with Wednesday.
While not specifying which at MetLife Stadium. you?′ I told him, `It’s my
ankle was hurt, Brown — ankle.′ But he knew that. It Wednesday’s injury report
through a statement released “Because of my commit- was well documented and we noted Brown’s absence from
by his attorney Wednesday ment to the game, I relented had discussed it. practice was “not injury re-
— said an MRI performed to pressure directly from my lated - personal.”