Djokovic Admits 'Error' on COVID, Australian Visa
2022-01-13
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1Serbian Novak Djokovic said he made an "error of judgment" when he had COVID-19 last month but did not isolate.
2The world's top tennis player also blamed his support team for a mistake in his Australian visa.
3Djokovic is chasing a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open.
4He is currently in a three-way tie for Grand Slam wins with Spain's Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Switzerland.
5On Monday, Djokovic won a legal action about his visa which permitted him to stay in Australia.
6His lawyers told the court that the Serbian tennis star received a medical pardon, or exemption, from vaccination following his positive COVID test on December 16.
7Australia has one of the world's most restricted visa policy linked to COVID-19.
8The country's immigration officials say they are still examining Djokovic's medical exemption.
9They can cancel his visa for health and safety reasons.
10In his visa request, Djokovic declared that he had not traveled anywhere in the 14 days before his arrival in Australia.
11But he was seen in public in Spain and Serbia during that period.
12Djokovic said in social media posts that his support team was responsible for the incorrect information on his visa.
13"This was a human error and certainly not deliberate," he wrote, adding, "my agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative mistake."
14Giving wrong information on Australian entry documents is a criminal offense.
15It could bring jail time, a fine and visa cancellation.
16Djokovic also had to answer questions on his public appearances around the time of his coronavirus infection.
17On December 17, Djokovic shared photos on Twitter of a ceremony in Serbia where he was the guest of honor.
18He also attended a tennis event with children in Belgrade without wearing a face covering.
19The next day, the infected tennis star met with reporters from the French newspapers L'Equipe.
20Djokovic denied media reports that he knew he was infected when he attended the tennis event with children.
21"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR result until after that event," he said.
22As for the meeting with L'Equipe, he wrote, "This was an error of judgment."
23He added that he should have postponed the event.
24Serbia generally requires those who are infected with COVID-19 to isolate for eight days.
25Many Australians are angered that Djokovic has been exempted from vaccination so he can play in the Australian Open.
26Australia has spent more time in lockdown than any other country.
27And currently there are a record number of COVID cases in Australia.
28Dr. David Edgar objected to the exemption in a letter to Melbourne's The Age newspaper.
29He called Djokovic an "ignorant, arrogant, selfish individual who has no good reason to not be vaccinated?"
30Two Australian reporters from Seven West Media also condemned Djokovic while they were live on television.
31The reporters did not know that the camera was on at the time.
32If Djokovic is permitted to stay and play in the Open, there might be anger from tennis players, too.
33The Association of Tennis Professionals says 97 of the top 100 male players are vaccinated.
34And, Tennys Sandgren, the world's number 93 player did not take part in the Australian Open because he did not meet the two-shot vaccination requirement.
35Marton Fucsovics lost to Djokovic at Wimbledon last year.
36He told Hungarian media, "(The) rules were outlined months ago, namely that everyone should vaccinate themselves, and Djokovic didn't."
37He added, "From this point of view, I don't think he would have the right to be here."
38World number 140 Joao Sousa, is trying to qualify for the main draw this week.
39He said it was difficult for other players to accept that Djokovic could play without being vaccinated.
40"It is a bit selfish from him to arrive here as the only player unvaccinated," Sousa told Portuguese news site Bolamarela.
41"He is finding a way around those rules."
42I'm Caty Weaver.
1Serbian Novak Djokovic said he made an "error of judgment" when he had COVID-19 last month but did not isolate. The world's top tennis player also blamed his support team for a mistake in his Australian visa. 2Djokovic is chasing a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. He is currently in a three-way tie for Grand Slam wins with Spain's Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Switzerland. 3On Monday, Djokovic won a legal action about his visa which permitted him to stay in Australia. His lawyers told the court that the Serbian tennis star received a medical pardon, or exemption, from vaccination following his positive COVID test on December 16. 4Australia has one of the world's most restricted visa policy linked to COVID-19. The country's immigration officials say they are still examining Djokovic's medical exemption. They can cancel his visa for health and safety reasons. 5In his visa request, Djokovic declared that he had not traveled anywhere in the 14 days before his arrival in Australia. But he was seen in public in Spain and Serbia during that period. 6Djokovic said in social media posts that his support team was responsible for the incorrect information on his visa. "This was a human error and certainly not deliberate," he wrote, adding, "my agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative mistake." 7Giving wrong information on Australian entry documents is a criminal offense. It could bring jail time, a fine and visa cancellation. 8Error of judgment 9Djokovic also had to answer questions on his public appearances around the time of his coronavirus infection. 10On December 17, Djokovic shared photos on Twitter of a ceremony in Serbia where he was the guest of honor. He also attended a tennis event with children in Belgrade without wearing a face covering. The next day, the infected tennis star met with reporters from the French newspapers L'Equipe. 11Djokovic denied media reports that he knew he was infected when he attended the tennis event with children. 12"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR result until after that event," he said. 13As for the meeting with L'Equipe, he wrote, "This was an error of judgment." He added that he should have postponed the event. 14Serbia generally requires those who are infected with COVID-19 to isolate for eight days. 15Arrogant, selfish 16Many Australians are angered that Djokovic has been exempted from vaccination so he can play in the Australian Open. Australia has spent more time in lockdown than any other country. And currently there are a record number of COVID cases in Australia. 17Dr. David Edgar objected to the exemption in a letter to Melbourne's The Age newspaper. He called Djokovic an "ignorant, arrogant, selfish individual who has no good reason to not be vaccinated?" 18Two Australian reporters from Seven West Media also condemned Djokovic while they were live on television. The reporters did not know that the camera was on at the time. 19If Djokovic is permitted to stay and play in the Open, there might be anger from tennis players, too. 20The Association of Tennis Professionals says 97 of the top 100 male players are vaccinated. And, Tennys Sandgren, the world's number 93 player did not take part in the Australian Open because he did not meet the two-shot vaccination requirement. 21Marton Fucsovics lost to Djokovic at Wimbledon last year. He told Hungarian media, "(The) rules were outlined months ago, namely that everyone should vaccinate themselves, and Djokovic didn't." He added, "From this point of view, I don't think he would have the right to be here." 22World number 140 Joao Sousa, is trying to qualify for the main draw this week. He said it was difficult for other players to accept that Djokovic could play without being vaccinated. 23"It is a bit selfish from him to arrive here as the only player unvaccinated," Sousa told Portuguese news site Bolamarela. "He is finding a way around those rules." 24I'm Caty Weaver. 25Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters and Associated Press news reports. 26______________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28error - n. a wrong action or statement 29positive - adj. showing the presence of a particular ger, condition or substance 30deliberate - adj. done on purpose 31arrogant - adj. having or showing attitude that they are better or more important than other people 32selfish - adj. having or showing concern only for yourself