Australian Open director Craig Tiley revealed that he was annoyed with the Novak Djokovic issue, saying it was time to put it to bed.
Djokovic ended up missing the Australian Open due to him not being vaccinated. After bags of controversy, blame games and even a legal battle, he was deported from Australia and banned from the country.
It marked the end of a complete fiasco regarding the World No. 1’s participation in the Australian Open. His final appeal was also rejected, meaning he will have to wait for his 21st Grand Slam win.
Tiley revealed that he was annoyed with the Djokovic issue, saying it was about time everyone left it behind.
Speaking to SEN’s Dwayne’s World as quoted by Tennis World USA, the Australian Open executive said, “We have many plans for the future and I am ready to work for the long term. The Victorian government has done a great job over the past 10 years.
“We’ve had a billion dollar growth, so we’re already thinking about our next goals. Our focus was on the tournament and the three weeks that accompanied the event. We are already planning 2023. There will be a meeting next month and all parties will be busy.”
Can we move on?
“We have a lot of work to do to overcome what we have already achieved,” Tiley continued.
“Djokovic? We want to leave behind what happened and move on.
“Since I have not yet publicly exposed myself on the matter, this is the first time, I ask the journalists for patience. In the next few days I will talk in detail about everything that happened in Australia.
“Despite the problems I have faced and the loneliness, I have never really felt alone. I felt the support of family, friends and the whole nation,” he concluded.
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