Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic, has praised tennis star, Novak Djokovic, for his “great fight” in the bid to play at the Australia Open in spite of not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
An Australian Federal Court last month decided to cancel the world number one’s visa after days of wrangling over the country’s COVID-19 entry rules.
The situation forced him to miss the Grand Slam tournament and return to Serbia.
“Thank you for the great fight you fought in Australia,” Vucic told Djokovic during a meeting in Belgrade on Thursday.
Vucic, a populist who is bidding for re-election in April, said he spoke with Djokovic as soon as he heard about the problems in Australia and told him to come home.
“And then I saw how … he was ready to fight not only for himself, but for his country,” the Serbia president said.
Djokovic, who previously refused to speak about the events in Australia, told Vucic he was grateful for the support, adding that he would address the public within seven to 10 days.
“You have stood behind me and placed yourself in a compromised political position in international relations, and I am … extremely grateful. I will remember that,” he said.
Djokovic’s treatment has been described as “scandalous” by the government in Belgrade and has soured relations between Serbia and Australia.
