Novak Djokovic has accepted an apology from journalist Piers Morgan after he was branded a ‘liar and cheat’ following his deportation from the 2021 Australian Open over a Covid controversy.
In a new interview, nearly four years later, Djokovic maintained that his views on Covid vaccinations had been ‘misinterpreted’ after his deportation generated global headlines.
The then-Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, denied Djokovic entry into the country three years ago because he was not fully vaccinated.
Djokovic was detained at Melbourne’s Park Hotel for five days while he challenged the decision before being sent home. The decision denied him the chance to defend his Australian Open title, though he returned in 2023 to win the Grand Slam event for the 10th time.
Morgan had been among those who criticized Djokovic’s stance at the time, issuing a stinging rebuke of the Serbian tennis star.
The broadcaster had labelled Djokovic a ‘covid rule cheat’ and ‘immigration form liar,’ tweeting at the time: ‘BREAKING: Covid rule cheat, immigration form liar, & anti-vaxxer icon Novak Djokovic loses final appeal against deportation & will be thrown out of Australia without being able to compete in Aus Open. Good.’
During the sit-down interview, the broadcaster began his apology by admitting he had been ‘censorious’ and had not known the full facts of the case.
“I was very censorious about you over the covid scandal you got caught up in,” he stated. “When more information emerged about your situation, that you had covid several weeks before you went to Australia and had not done anything wrong on the form filling, the fact it then became a political decision to throw you out…
I would like to say I am sorry for the intemperate language I used against you, because I did not know you, I took what I was reading and hearing at face value and I am sorry.”
Djokovic accepted the apology, insisting he had been ‘misinterpreted’ at the time. He maintained that he had not been pro or anti-vaccination, but instead had been in favour of ‘freedom of choice.’
“I appreciate that, for your honesty, thank you so much… The only thing I would add not to really dig deeper into this whole situation on the Covid and vaccination is that I was never a proponent of anti-vax or pro vax. I was always freedom of choice. And that was misinterpreted,” Djokovic responded.
“I was proclaimed to be one side or the other side and so forth. It’s either black or white. And I said, ‘It doesn’t need to be that way’.”
Djokovic’s visa had been cancelled by the Australian Government on ‘health and good order’ grounds, with an appeal against the decision ultimately being rejected.
Earlier this year, Djokovic claimed his deportation was due to fears from Australia’s Government that he had become a ‘hero’ for the growing anti-vaccination movement in the country at the time.
He returned to the Australian Open in 2023 and claimed a record-extending 10th title at the event.
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