I did find it funny that they flipflopped on that so much. Why is it even really the federal government's decision? I feel like the organizers of the tournament (or whatever it's called in tennis) should have decided much sooner. Mayhaps they did and the government disagreed. Whatever it is, definitely embarrassing for all parties involved.
It was a shitshow of ego and incompetence on both sides.
We’re currently suffering under on of the worst governments this country has ever seen who base everything they do on public perspective. They were ready to ship his ass off until they got the slightest public pushback. They had to look like they were taking a stance without actually doing anything to take the blame so they gave him chance after chance until it went to court and be dealt with by judges. A wonderful use of the legal system.
Djokovic came here after spewing anti-vax bullshit, got around travel protocols by lying about his vaccination status with some made up ‘medical exemption’, tested positive for covid and went out in public anyway, and bitched and moaned about persecution. Theres still some wannabe patriots trying to martyr him as some champion of freedom, but they’re fucking insane.
This is just my own tinfoil conspiracy but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tennis Australia were pulling strings in order to get him into the tournament somehow seeing he’s world number one and a favourite to win. They really need big names with Federer not coming out anymore, Nadal getting older and the young stars not having the same pull.
Also worth mentioning that the AO is held in Melbourne which went through brutal outbreaks and lockdowns. Having some un-vaxed millionaire dumbass come in and be praised whilst they went through hell obviously made people furious.
Fortunately the tournament has finally started and should be interesting seeing we might get a new/unseen winner. The right outcome was reached but fuck me, we could have all done without narcissistic dumb cunts making a mountain out of a molehill.