Novax Djocovid: Internet reacts to Australian tennis player arrest

The ban on Novak Djokovic’s entry into Australia because he had not met the health requirements for access to the country caused the internet to explode with memes and jokes involving the Serbian tennis player.

After the episode, the nickname Novax Djocovid (“Novax” is a pun for “no vaccine”, in English) took over social networks and even gained a hashtag.

Sérgio Rodrigues, columnist for leaf, ranked the nickname as one of the best in the sport.

“Is Novax Djocovid the most perfect nickname in the history of sports? It will be.”, posted the writer on Twitter.

“Novax Djocovid. That’s it. Social media has reached its peak. No need to log in ever again. #NovaxDjocovid”, posted another profile on Twitter.

Network users also posted memes and jokes associating Djokovic with the 2004 film “The Terminal”, starring Tom Hanks, in which his character is trapped in a US airport terminal after being denied entry into the country by local authorities. .

Hanks is also unable to return to his home country, the fictional Krakhozia, which is undergoing a revolution.

Some have even involved other tennis players in the game. In another post on Twitter, a user posted a montage of Roger Federer as the immigration agent responsible for barring the Serb at Melbourne airport.

Current Australian Open champion and world number 1, Novak Djokovic is at the center of a controversy for not revealing whether he was immunized against the new coronavirus, in addition to having sought special authorization in order to compete in the tournament, in which he would seek his 21st Grand Slam title to isolate himself as the biggest winner — he is currently tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Several Australian authorities have spent the last few weeks saying that the Serb could only enter the country if he was vaccinated. However, the organizers of the event granted him a medical exception, in a decision made in conjunction with Victorian government health officials.

Despite this, when he landed in the country, he was stopped by the federal customs service. According to the Australian press, a member of Djokovic’s team requested a type of visa for his entry into the country that does not apply to those who received the vaccine waiver.

After finding the error, the Federal Border Department contacted the Victoria State Government, a partner in the organization of the tournament, to try to solve the problem during the flight on which the athlete was, but the attempt to contact did not receive a positive response. .

The athlete is now in a quarantine hotel in Melbourne. His lawyers have reached an agreement for him to stay in the country at least until a hearing scheduled for Monday (10), in which they hope to overturn the federal government’s ban on entry.