Skepticism and anger greet Novak Djokovic’s vaccine exemption.

The information that Novak Djokovic had acquired a medical exemption to play within the Australian Open event this month in Melbourne spurred a spread of reactions in Australia, the place some politicians and tennis officers known as on him to elucidate himself.

Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 male tennis participant and a distinguished vaccination skeptic, announced on social media on Tuesday that he was “heading Down Under with an exemption permission.”

The event’s organizers confirmed that he had been granted a medical exemption after a overview course of by two unbiased panels, a process that urged he remained unvaccinated.

Reaction among the many professional tennis elite was considerably measured. After Alex de Minaur and James Duckworth, who’re each from Australia, absorbed the information, Duckworth stated at a news briefing on the ATP Cup in Sydney, “If he’s fit the criteria, then, yeah, he should be able to come.”

“That’s very politically correct of you,” de Minaur replied with amusing. He added, “I just think it’s just very interesting; that’s all I’m going to say.”

Other Australians used social media to precise their anger on the choice. The hashtag #DjokovicOut trended on Twitter on Wednesday. Commentators identified that spectators on the Australian Open have to be vaccinated.

Stephen Parnis, a former vice chairman of the Australian Medical Association, tweeted: “I don’t care how good a tennis player he is. If he’s refusing to get vaccinated, he shouldn’t be allowed in. If this exemption is true, it sends an appalling message to millions seeking to reduce #COVID19Aus risk to themselves & others. #Vaccination shows respect, Novak.”

Another Twitter user known as it “a slap in the face of millions of Australians.”

Jamie Murray of Britain stated on Tuesday after his ATP Cup doubles match: “I think if it was me that wasn’t vaccinated, I wouldn’t be getting an exemption. But well done to him for getting clear to come to Australia and compete.”

Djokovic has lengthy held nontraditional views of science and medication — he as soon as asserted that prayer and perception might purify poisonous water — and he has had an advanced relationship with the pandemic. He has additionally stated that vaccination is a personal and private choice that shouldn’t be mandated. When the Australian Open introduced that vaccines can be required to achieve entry into the nation, Djokovic’s father referred to the mandate as “blackmail.”

Jacinta Allan, performing premier of Victoria state, the place the Australian Open will probably be held, known as on Djokovic to elucidate his causes for attending the event.

“It’s the government’s expectation that when he does arrive, he explains to the Victorian community what’s the circumstances, and can then explain some of these motives behind his actions and his intentions in playing here in Australia,” she stated on Wednesday at a information convention.

Craig Tiley, the chief of Tennis Australia, which hosts the event, acknowledged that some individuals “will be upset about the fact that Novak has come in because of his statements of the past couple of years around vaccination,” however he stated that Djokovic had not been given any particular favors.

The answered as to if the tennis participant might even enter the nation for the event got here with a powerful “no” on Thursday. After a 10-hour standoff with authorities officers at a Melbourne airport, the place he was held in a room in a single day, Djokovic was advised he needed to go away the nation. The subject appeared to activate questions concerning the proof supporting a medical exemption from a coronavirus vaccine.

The federal government says that if worldwide vacationers can’t be vaccinated for medical causes, they “will need to provide proof” to airline employees.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia echoed that at a information convention on Wednesday, saying that if Djokovic arrived in Australia, he must present “acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated.”

“If that evidence is insufficient,” Morrison stated, “he won’t be treated different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home.”