Novak Djokovic: Tim Henman says ‘decisions have consequences’ after Serb was deported from Australia

Tim Henman echoed Rafael Nadal‘s sentiment of ‘decisions have consequences’ when asked about the Novak Djokovic visa row which resulted in the Serb being deported from Australia on Sunday. 

The world No 1 was set to start the defence of his Australian Open title – and pursuit of a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam – on Monday but after the 34-year-old appealed the cancellation of his visa for a second time, three judges unanimously decided the star’s visa cancellation was legal.

Whilst Djokovic was on the next plane home, former British No 1 Henman insisted that with the year-round travelling associated with life as a professional tennis player, it has become a reality that ‘you need to get vaccinated’.  

Former British No 1 Tim Henman echoed Rafael Nadal’s sentiment of ‘decisions have consequences’ when asked about the Novak Djokovic visa row on Sunday 

Djokovic (right), on the eve of the Australian Open starting, is now on his way back home

‘It’s been a bad look for everyone, whether that’s been Tennis Australia, the Victorian state or the Australian government,’ Henman told Sportsmail.  

‘The one point I would make is that to be a professional tennis player, there are certain things you need to do. Travelling is one of them, if you don’t like it, professional tennis is going to be difficult. 

‘The reality is looking at the vaccination, if you want to play professional tennis, it’s a global sport, you need to get vaccinated. 

‘I absolutely respect that any human being has choice. If they don’t want to get vaccinated, I respect that – that is there choice. However, as I think Rafael Nadal eloquently put: decisions have consequences. 

‘When you look at the life of a professional tennis player, when you’re travelling around the world, it would be a lot more straightforward if you are vaccinated.’ 

The Serbian star had his visa revoked again on Friday amid public anger in Australia

A saga which started on January 4 when Djokovic revealed he was travelling Down Under as a result of being granted a ‘medical exemption’ to play at the Australian Open, ended 12 days later with the nine-time champion on his way home following a story which made headlines worldwide. 

The un-jabbed Serb said in a statement he was ‘extremely disappointed’ with the Court’s ruling and after the defending champion spent time in a detention centre for refugees in Melbourne amid protests outside, AELTC board member Henman noted that the Australian government did not handle the situation well. 

‘All these grey areas could’ve and should’ve sorted out long before he actually arrived at border control in Melbourne,’ Henman, who is working for Eurosport at the Australian Open, added. 

The world No 1 had been practicing this week, but he will now not participate in Melbourne

‘That’s where all of this could have been avoided. That’s the disappointing element for everyone.

‘For the Australian Open, taking place in the Victoria state in the country of Australia – and then Djokovic with his unvaccinated status – those bodies needed to communicate a lot better to understand how things were going to play out before it got to this stage.  

‘It’s not whether you’re the best tennis player in the world, if you’re very famous or very wealthy, these are the rules for Australia. I don’t think the government seem to have handled it very well. 

‘From my point of view as a tennis fan, I want to really draw a line under it because there’s been so many great stories from the first few weeks of the season and you’ve got a Grand Slam coming up, one of the cornerstones of our sport, and I want the tennis to do the talking now, that’s for sure.’