Craig Tiley is optimistic about Novak Djokovic returning for subsequent yr’s Australian Open however has dominated out looking for any favours from authorities officers who will decide the Serb’s destiny.
Djokovic is serving an computerized three-year ban from Australia after being dramatically deported on the eve of this yr’s Open for making an attempt to enter the nation whereas not vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.
While the vaccine mandate is not an impediment for the previous world No.1, Djokovic’s legal professionals are nonetheless making an attempt to have his visa ban overturned.
“Nothing official yet. We are waiting. They are communicating with the government of Australia. That’s all I can tell you for now,” Djokovic instructed reporters after successful his opening match on the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday evening.
With Wednesday marking two months earlier than the 2023 Open will get underway in Melbourne, the stalemate is hardly splendid however Tiley is hopeful tennis followers – and Djokovic – won’t need to endure a re-run of this yr’s cleaning soap opera.
Tiley, although, is adamant he won’t become involved because the ‘will he or won’t he’ saga rages on.
“There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing,” Tiley instructed AAP.
“I don’t think there should be any preferential treatment for anyone.
“But I fully expect to have an answer for everyone by the time that they need to book their flights and come in, including Novak.
“That’s entirely up to the Australian government. I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.
“He loves Australia and it’s where he’s had the best success but the timing (on any announcement) is up to somebody else and we’ll just play that one by ear.”
Tiley was caught in the course of final summer season’s firestorm, breaking the news to the nine-time champion that he had secured a medical exemption to play at Melbourne Park, just for the then-immigration minister Alex Hawke to personally intervene and boot Djokovic out of Australia.
Despite the fiasco, Tiley says Djokovic bears no exhausting emotions in direction of him.
“It’s funny, I’ve spoken to Novak a few times. We caught up and spent some time together in London and he’s fine. Our relationship is fine,” Tiley stated.
“He played the Laver Cup and it was really nice to be able to spend some private time with him.
“He understands the circumstances and everything but he’s got to work it out with the federal government. I’m confident they’ll reach some arrangement and hopefully it’s positive.
“But I don’t know that. That’s really between he and the feds. But the conditions have changed significantly from where they were a year ago and I’d like to have Novak here.
“I want to have all the best players in the world here.”
