World No 137 Christopher Eubanks is hoping Novak Djokovic gets a chance to compete at the 2023 Australian Open as he felt that the Australian government and Tennis Australia could have handled the Djokovic visa situation better.
Earlier this year, Djokovic’s Australia visa was canceled and he was deported from the country. But before Djokovic flew to Australia, he was granted a special medical exemption. After he landed in Melbourne, then the whole chaos and drama ensued.
In the end, Djokovic was deported and also handed a three-year ban from entering the country. “I hope Novak is able to play this Australian Open, I mean the entire situation was a bit of a circus at times but I really don’t attribute too much of that to Novak Djokovic.
I think there was a lot of blame to go around between Tennis Australia and the Australian government, maybe relaying information or maybe the wrong information. Novak came, he thought he was going to be able to compete and because he was given the wrong information, he was deported,” Eubanks said on Tennis Channel, per Sportskeeda.
Eubanks rooting for Djokovic to return to Australia in 2023
In an interview with Sportal, Djokovic said there are “positive signs” regarding his Australia return. Djokovic’s lawyers have been communicating with the Australian authorities as it seems that the Serb will be allowed to compete in Australia next year.
“We know the rule that if you’re deported, you cannot get a visa for three years. We understand all that. However, I do believe that Novak will be able to play, I hope that he is able to play, I hope that they are able to come to some type of compromise that will allow him to compete because by his own definition, he tried to follow the rules that were put before him and it just was a very unfortunate incident how it all went down,” Eubanks added.
