Mark Dolan: Novak Djokovic has won the argument, game set and match

Novak Djokovic has been thrown out of Australia, for refusing to reveal his medical status.

Novax Djokovic as he has to come to be known is now a twofold hero. Firstly of course on the tennis courts as one of the most decorated stars in the history of the game, but now latterly in a brave battle he didn't have to fight, he is a global standard bearer for bodily autonomy.

As we discovered last night, large parts of Australia have effectively become a police state and Down Under and across the world, those who have chosen not to be jabbed are treated at best as second class citizens and at worst as inferior human beings worthy of scorn and indeed punishment.

That pint sized dictator, French president Emmanuel Macron actually said unvaccinated French people aren't really citizens at all.

If left unchecked, history will tell you that dividing up members of society and treating them differently for any reason at all, can go to a very dark place indeed.

The competition will be poorer for Djokovic's absence and it will be an empty victory for whichever vaccinated star wins the trophy.

Such is the current state of men's tennis, if you haven’t beaten Djokovic, you haven't won at all.

So Novak’s bought a lot of opprobrium on himself and he didn't have to do this. He will lose prize money and sponsorship and won't be able to achieve a record-breaking run of wins at the Australian Open.

It will ultimately have implications for his career tally, when he retires. Which is why his actions have been so admirable.

He has willingly relinquished trophies as a matter of principle.

For him it's been a Henman Hill to die on and I think the behavouru of the authorities down under has been a grand sham.

How ironic that Australia should be the home of a kangaroo court. Australia are obsessed with their zero Covid policy.

The country has been close for almost 2 years, Cases are through the roof and the disease they thought they could avoid, at I watering human and economic cost, is now on their doorstep.

Covid 40, Australian government love. The lesson learnt is that the vaccine, whilst fantastic at preventing severe illness and death, and if you risk serious illness from Covid you’d be mad not to have it. But it’s got to be a matter of personal choice.

The idea that Novak Djokovic, one of the fittest and most accomplished athletes on the planet is a threat to public health in Australia, would make a storyline from Neighbours or Home and Away look far-fetched.

This courageous tennis ace has served us well. He’s smashed it, and he’s won the argument, game set and match.