Kyrgios critical of Djokovic treatment as exemption controversy rumbles on

SYDNEY－Nick Kyrgios has emerged as an unlikely ally for Novak Djokovic, and said he is keen to avoid being drawn to face the reigning Australian Open champion if the Serb manages to convince authorities to allow him to play at this year's tournament.

Djokovic, a winner of nine Australian Open titles, was spending his fourth day in an immigration detention hotel after authorities last Thursday revoked his visa, which had been supported by a medical exemption from the country's vaccination requirements.

The 34-year-old is challenging the refusal to allow him to enter the country as he chases a record 21st Grand Slam title.

Kyrgios said he expects the upheaval will have little bearing on Djokovic's preparedness for the first major event of the season.

"If he's allowed to play the Australian Open, I don't want any bar of him," the Australian told reporters at Sydney's Olympic Park on Saturday, ahead of next week's Sydney Tennis Classic.

"He's going to be very determined to play well, and stick it to everyone of what's going on. And I don't want any bar of that Novak.

"I think he'll have no problem preparing. I think this is just all added fuel for him, in my opinion.

"We all know how good of a competitor he is. You don't become a great champion like that without being able to overcome some adversity like this."

Kyrgios and Djokovic have previously shared an uneasy relationship since clashing ahead of last year's Australian Open over quarantining conditions.

But with lawyers attempting to secure Djokovic's release after the Federal Border Force said he was unable to justify grounds for an exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirements, Kyrgios has criticized the Serb's treatment.

"It's a bit of a mess with what's going on, and I just don't think we have gone about it the right way," he said.

"I hope it all gets sorted as soon as possible. For the sport we need him here, it's that simple. He's one of the most influential sports people, probably of all time.

"If he's ready to play and he's allowed to play, I think it's in a way good for our sport with all this attention because probably the Australian Open won't have as many views as it's ever probably had if he's able to play.

"I'm feeling for him now. Like it's not really humane, is it, what's going on? His life's probably hard enough as it is, and I know what that's like.

"I just hope it all gets sorted soon."

Legal hearing looms

Djokovic on Sunday began his fourth day in immigration detention as Australian authorities finalized a legal defense explaining their decision to cancel his visa over questions about his COVID-19 vaccine exemption.

The superstar is hoping to break a tie with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer by winning his 21st Grand Slam at Melbourne Park later this month. However, instead of warming up for the tournament, Djokovic has been confined to a hotel used to accommodate asylum seekers. He is challenging a decision to cancel his visa after being stopped on arrival at Melbourne Airport early on Thursday.

A vocal opponent of vaccine mandates, Djokovic had declined to reveal his vaccination status or reason for seeking a medical exemption. He broke his silence on Saturday by filing a legal challenge saying he was granted an exemption due to contracting－and recovering from－the virus in December.

The Australian government has said its health department notified Australian Open organizing body Tennis Australia last November that a recent COVID-19 infection was not necessarily grounds for exemption in the country, as it was elsewhere. Djokovic's lawsuit says the Department of Home Affairs wrote to him this month to say he had satisfied the requirements to enter the country.

Czech player Renata Voracova, who was detained in the same hotel as Djokovic and had her visa revoked after issues with her vaccine exemption, left the country without challenging her status, the Czech Foreign Ministry said.

The Djokovic matter is scheduled to go to a hearing on Monday.

The tennis superstar's situation has drawn an unlikely crowd of supporters to the Melbourne hotel which, until this month, was best known for media reports about its asylum-seeker occupants claiming they were served food containing maggots.

Reuters