Djokovic stops his deportation and continues in Australia
The athlete remains at the Park Hotel in Melbourne where he will serve his due quarantine until Monday.
The world tennis number one, Novak Djokovic, has not been deported at the moment and will remain until Monday in a Melbourne hotel after the cancellation of his visa to enter Australia for not having the Covid-19 vaccine. This news has already caused a stir internationally.
Christopher Tran, an Australian state attorney, told the city at a hearing on Thursday that the government so far does not plan to expel the Serbian before Monday, when the second court mediation is achieved.
The tennis player sent a message to the family, since he landed in the country. Djordje, Novak's brother, assured that this message was written from his personal cell phone. In addition, he assured that his brother is not a criminal, he is just an athlete.
The tennis player's father, Srdjan Djokovic, said that his son Novak "is being crucified" for not receiving the vaccine against the coronavirus. This decision was the reason why a conflict was generated in his attempt to enter Australia to participate in the first Grand Slam of the year, since January 17.
Diplomatic problem
The athlete traveled to Melbourne to play the Australian Open, having obtained a "medical exemption" from the local authorities. However, at the time his flight landed in the state of Victoria on Wednesday, he was detained by Immigration staff at Tullamarine International Airport on Wednesday for a problem detected in his visa.
President Aleksandar Vucic did not hesitate to accuse the Australian authorities of mistreating the tennis player and of carrying out a "political hunt". Turning this into a diplomatic problem.
A group of fans gathered today at the Park Hotel in Melbourne, where he was referred, to demand his freedom. The facility, used as a detention center for quarantine, is where they also include undocumented migrants who were transported from the Manus and Naur islands.
The father reported that the athlete is being held in jail. Furthermore, he has been stripped of his cell phone and has no clothes or personal hygiene items. Ensuring that Novak is another common prisoner, admitted to an unsanitary room.
Srdjan added that, "They have Novak captive. Novak is Serbia, and they are trampling on both Novak and Serbia. They want to underestimate him, humiliate him. We are Serbs, a proud people, we never attack anyone, we just defend ourselves."
Australian authorities are considering not only deporting him now, but also banning Novak Djokovic from entering the country for three years, The Age reports.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison assured at a press conference that the 34-year-old tennis player has not presented evidence that he has been vaccinated with the corresponding doses. He insists that rules are important when it comes to our borders. No one is free from them.
The number 1 of the ATP has made public his opposition to the coronavirus vaccine and has repeatedly refused to confirm whether he had been vaccinated, considering it an act of personal reserve.
The famous tournament requires that all its players be vaccinated or have an exemption granted by two independent expert committees. In Melbourne Park, the tennis players who received the Sputnik V vaccine will not participate, since it is not approved in the country.