MELBOURNE/LAHORE – Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will finally be able to defend his 2021 title after his visa to enter Australia was reissued after the World No 1 produced a certificate meeting the country’s coronavirus vaccination rules on Friday, The Dependent has reliably learnt.
The vaccination certificate for Djokovic, a copy of which is available with The Dependent, has been issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), approved by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations And Coordination.
Sources privy to the second exchange between Djokovic’s legal team and Australian Border Forces have confirmed that since the first visa was rescinded owing to the Serb’s failure to prove a ‘medical exemption’, the production of a vaccination certificate in such quick time has raised eyebrows.
“But it is a valid certificate issued by a body that has the authority issue certificates recognised globally, so the visa had to be issued and Mr Djokovic had to be allowed entry into the country,” said an Australian Border Forces official while talking to The Dependent.
An investigation by The Dependent has further revealed that Djokovic’s vaccination certificate was indeed downloaded from the National Immunisation Management System’s (NIMS) online portal.
The investigation has further revealed that Djokovic’s entry was made by a government employee in Lahore who had authorised access to the national vaccine management system’s database.
“It is great that justice has been served and Novak would be able to play at the Australian Open,” said Djokovic’s coach and former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic while talking to this scribe in front of Mohammedi Nihari House Friday afternoon near the back gate of GOR-II [Government Officer’s Residence].
