Craig Tiley says Novak Djokovic not suing Tennis Australia and will return for 2023 Australian Open

Tennis Australia’s chief executive, Craig Tiley, has dismissed suggestions that Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic may sue the organisation and has claimed the world No 1 will be back at the Australian Open in 2023.

Tiley has maintained a low profile since Djokovic was deported a week ago. However, on Sunday, he spoke to ABC TV and said Djokovic was not considering taking legal action against Tennis Australia over its role in the saga.

“No,” he said when asked if Tennis Australia was being sued. “I mean there is going to be lots of reports on different things but we are in a position where we are focused on delivering an event right now and we will continue to deliver a great event.”

The beleaguered chief executive also replied “Yes” when asked if Djokovic would be back in Australia for the 2023 tournament.

“Obviously, I think he’s got to play out this year, but that will be his intention. At the end of the day, he’s the No 1 player in the world and he loves the Australian Open.”

Use of the immigration minister’s power to cancel a visa – as happened in Djokovic’s case – comes with a three-year ban on re-entering Australia, except in compelling circumstances, such as compassionate or Australian national interest grounds.

On Thursday, the Sun in the UK reported that Djokovic was considering suing the Australian government over his detention, arguing it amounted to ill-treatment.

Tennis Australia and a board of medical experts connected with the Victorian state government granted Djokovic an exemption to participate in the tournament despite him not being vaccinated against Covid on the basis he had recently recovered from the virus.

However, the federal government disagreed and border force cancelled Djokovic’s visa after