Melbourne | Djokovic looks set to be cleared for Australian Open

With the 2023 edition of the Australian Open starting on 16 January 2023, Djokovic has said in Turin that his lawyers were still talking to Australian officials but as of last Monday, had not reached an agreement.

There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing Craig Tiley

“Nothing official yet,” the nine-time Australian Open champion said. “We are waiting. They are communicating with the government of Australia. That’s all I can tell you for now.”

But the news that he is waiting for looks to be positive as the government looks set to overturn the visa ban preventing him from entering the country according to a newspaper report in Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald states sources close to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles have said Djokovic will be granted a visa, overturning his automatic three-year ban.

However Australian Open director Craig Tiley had said earlier on Tuesday that he was still awaiting a decision but was not expecting “preferential treatment” for the player.

“There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing,” Tiley told AAP news agency.

“I don’t think there should be any preferential treatment for anyone. But I fully expect to have an answer for everyone by the time that they need to book their flights and come in, including Novak.
“That’s entirely up to the Australian government. I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.

“He loves Australia and it’s where he’s had the best success but the timing [on any announcement] is up to somebody else and we’ll just play that one by ear.”

Djokovic is not vaccinated for Covid-19, which prompted the January saga ahead of the first Grand Slam of this year, but Australian travel rules now state that you do not need proof of a Covid-19 vaccine to travel to and from the country.