"I give Novak Djokovic a lot of credit" says Mats Wilander after his deportation

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander has given Djokovic credit trying to argue his case but also understands where the Australian government are coming from given the strict lockdown rules the population has had to endure over the past two years. Speaking to Eurosport he said:

‘I’m surprised and I’m shocked. I’m a little bit exhausted as well because we have been hearing about this for a week. I give Novak a lot of credit for trying but at the same time he knew there might be the possibility that with the rules you have to be vaccinated. But you also have to think about the other players – they have been asked about this for the whole time they have in Australia."

Wilander further said:

"But the big thing for me, the best tennis players in the world, they are globally famous people and this has really been one of the biggest story this year so far. It is sad news, but we will have a new winner."

Asked whether he thinks it's fair, Wilander said:

"Do I think it’s fair? Well I think it’s fair – millions of people have died from COVID around the world. Australia has decided to go into full lockdown for most of the time, Australians have been suffering both mentally and physically of course like everybody else, so I think in the end Novak tried everything he could and I think it was very difficult to go back on what they said at first. The judge has to realise that maybe he is changing the history of our sport – but what can you do?"