Djokovic is being held at the airport, guarded by the police, and taken away from his mobile phone

Novak Djokovic.
Photo: TASR/AP/Luca Bruno

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic received a medical exemption, but in the end he may not defend his title at the Australian Open. On Wednesday, he had problems arriving in Melbourne, where they found out that the 20-time Grand Slam champion did not have the correct visa to enter the country.

They still keep him at the airport, according to the AP agency, they guard him in a closed room.

A question mark hung over Djokovic’s participation in the Australian Open for a long time. The Serb refused to say whether he was vaccinated against the coronavirus, which is a condition of the host state of Victoria. The nine-time champion from Melbourne claimed that information about the vaccination was his private matter. He announced on social media on Tuesday that he had received a medical exemption and was heading to Melbourne, where he wanted to fight for a record 21st Grand Slam title. However, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Djokovic’s start at the Australian Open was not yet a done deal. Although the organizers decide to participate in the tournament and grant an exemption, entry into the country must be approved by the federal government. It is responsible for border measures and visas. Like all unvaccinated passengers who want to enter Australia by way of exception, Djokovic had to provide the relevant documents to immigration officials upon arrival.

According to the Australian media, Djokovic was delayed from entering the country due to incorrect visas. According to the Herald newspaper, the border guard found out that Djokovic was trying to get into a country with a type of visa that does not allow a medical exemption for the unvaccinated. The guard subsequently sought approval from the state government in Victoria to formally allow Djokovic to enter the country and approve his visa application, which would entitle him to “work” at the Australian Open. Sports Minister Jaala Pulford declined to support the request.

Although Djokovic was allowed to get off the plane, he was later locked up in an airport room, according to Serbian media. “No one can get to him. Two police officers are standing in front of the room guarding him,” his father Srdjan told the B92 portal. In addition, the Djokovic took their cell phones.

The Serbian media described the treatment of the tennis player as “appalling”, describing the situation as “a continuation of the state of Victoria’s campaign against Djokovic.”

According to the Australian daily Age, it is questionable whether Djokovic presented the right document proving that he had overcome COVID-19 in the past six months. That should be the reason for granting the exemption.

The decision is now in the hands of the federal authorities, more specifically Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. His decision may allegedly overturn all previous verdicts of the institutions of the individual Australian states.

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