Novak Djokovic's Australian Open vaccine exemption has been cancelled. Here's all you need to know

Having been within a couple of hundred metres of admission to Australia, world men's number one Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to the country after the federal government deemed his visa application ineligible.

But how exactly did he get so close to entering Australia in the first place?

In a Facebook live stream with fellow Serbian athletes in April of 2020, Djokovic revealed his doubts over vaccinations, even before a COVID-19 vaccine had been created.

«Personally, I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn't want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,» he said.

«But, if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.»

A spokesperson for Djokovic later said that he was «opposed to the vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be able to travel».

«Many tennis players [and] athletes have reached out to me, asking what my opinion is on this whole situation,» the spokesperson, quoting Djokovic, told various outlets in late April.

«I have expressed my views because I have the right to and I also feel responsible to highlight certain essential topics that are concerning the tennis world.

»Despite having access to information and resources, I am left in doubt about what could be the best thing to do.

«My job requires lots of travel. Some are saying that, for us who travel, we would have to take the vaccine that is yet to be developed. Therefore, I would like to repeat and point out that at this moment, we do not have adequate information.

»I am no expert, but I do want to have an option to choose what's best for my body. I am keeping an open mind, and I'll continue to research this topic because it is important and it will affect all of us."

In June of that year, Djokovic and