John McEnroe and Chris Fowler appeared to be having a tense discussion on ESPN over Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia last year as they recapped the Serbian tennis star’s latest Grand Slam win.
Djokovic won the Australian Open on Sunday in straight sets over Stefanos Tsitsipas and captured his 22nd career Grand Slam title, tying Rafael Nadal for the most all-time among male players.
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Tommy Paul of the USA in their semi-final match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, January 27, 2023.
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
As McEnroe and Fowler recapped everything that Djokovic had been through in the last two years, there was an awkward exchange about the tennis great being deported. Djokovic chose not to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, and controversy over his exemption status led Australian authorities to deport him last year. A second firestorm was averted earlier this month as Djokovic was able to enter the country without any problems.
«…He gets deported from Australia. He doesn’t get any points at Wimbledon,» McEnroe said. «I can’t play the [U.S.] Opened. …»
Fowler chimed in: «A part of his choices, to be fair. He made decisions that led to that for some of those things.»
NOVAK DJOKOVIC BREAKS SILENCE ON FATHER’S ABSENCE AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN AFTER RUSSIAN FLAG CONTROVERSY
John McEnroe, left, and Chris Fowler call a match at the US Open on September 9, 2022 in New York.
(Jean Catuffe/GC Images)
McEnroe responded, «I don’t think… I think he should have committed to play.»
«Okay, well, that’s up for debate,» Fowler said. «He made decisions that led to it… But that was forgotten for the moment.»
McEnroe had been in favor of Djokovic being able to play in the best tennis tournaments despite his vaccination status. He told Fox News Digital as much when he discussed the Serbian star’s status for the 2022 US Open, which hasn’t changed for 2023.
«Well, first of all, I think it’s nonsense. That’s what I think. I think he should be allowed to play. My personal opinion, since I was vaccinated, I got a booster shot, that depends on the individual.» McEnroe said in August. «If I were him, and I’m not him, he won a lot more Majors than me, probably because he pushed himself and found the team, which very few people in any sport have found, so that’s part of what has made him so big, he stands his ground. He has every right to make the decision.»
John McEnroe, left, and Chris Fowler announce a match at the US Open on August 27, 2018 in New York.
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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«The guy is one of the best athletes in any sport,» he continued. «He’s very careful about everything he puts on his body. So, it’s frustrating to see right now when we’re sitting here and we’re all having a great time at an LAFC football game and he’s not being allowed into the country right now. because he’s unvaccinated. It’s really unfortunate, but those are the rules that we really have right now with the government. I don’t agree with that, but c’est la vie at the moment.»