Novak Djokovic felt ‘humiliated on world stage’, slams ‘ugly image’ media created
Novak Djokovic says he is unable to put the fiasco of his deportation saga behind him and instead looks to move forward by being as open as possible about his views.
The world number one played his first competitive matches of the new year this week as he took to the ATP 500 Dubai Tennis Championships.
While there, he took the opportunity to speak with some media from back home on the subject of his experience Down Under in January.
“Some think that I politicised this whole situation, that I deliberately wanted to enter the country and attract attention,” Djokovic told Serbian publication Sport Klub while in Dubai.
“They think that I entered politics more than sports.
“A very ugly image of me was created.
“They humiliated me, if I may say so, on a world level.”
But as has been true throughout this saga, Djokovic has been emboldened by such an experience.
He remains as adamant as ever in expressing his views and stating his case.
“That is why it is important that I always have the opportunity to say something,” he continued.
“If someone wants to ask me something, I will answer, I will repeat my answers because I have nothing else to add except what I said to the BBC.
“I did everything that was asked of me.
“I was in the same position as any other tennis player.
“I see that there is a belief that I was privileged and received that status because of who I am.
“I will say something that the BBC cut, and I will repeat this like a parrot: Everyone had the same [exemption available].
“I came to Australia, 10 days before me a tennis player from the Czech Republic and a coach from Croatia came in with an identical exemption.
“[The Czech] played the tournament, [the Croatian] coached his player and there was no problem.
“Suddenly the problem arose because I came.
“Why? You tell me.”
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