Media pressure mounts on Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley in wake of Novak Djokovic visa cancellation

Speculation over the future of Tennis Australia Chief Executive and Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley has been mounting over the past day in the wake of his role in the saga of Novak Djokovic having been granted a medical exemption to compete in the event and the subsequent legal case and deportation of the world number one tennis player.

Djokovic yesterday lost his final legal challenge when a full bench of the Federal Court of Australia denied his effort to overturn Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel his visa.

With Djokovic deported, attention is focussing on whether Tennis Australia acted properly in its actions in looking to attract Djokovic - whose COVID-19 and vaccination status was uncertain - to tournament.

With Tiley and Tennis Australia appearing to have pushed for Djokovic to play in the tournament, the granting of a medical exemption (not approved by the Australian Border Force) seems to have been beyond its authority.

A reported transcript of Djokovic’s interview with Australian Border Force officials when he was originally detained at Tullamarine Airport shows he was shocked to find out his visa might be cancelled, with the star repeatedly claiming he’d been given the all-clear to arrive from Tennis Australia.

With Tiley (pictured) facing questions about his role in encouraging Djokovic to come to Australia, Foxsports has described him as “the real villain in (the) Novak Djokovic mess”.

A wide range of media reports have also suggested that Tiley, in his current position since 2013 and widely respected for having enhanced the Australia Open during that time, should consider his role.

Amid a wide range of statements made following yesterday’s court decision, neither Tennis Australia nor the Australian Open has made any comment.

However, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) did release a statement advising that the “decision to uphold Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa cancellation marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events. Ultimately, decisions of legal authorities regarding matters of public health must be respected.”