Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic kept a low profile on his third day in Australian immigration detention on Saturday, as a blame game between Australian authorities over his handling of the Covid-19 vaccine exemption steamed up.
The Serbian superstar, a vocal opponent of the vaccine mandate, who has come to Australia hoping to win his 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open, has been kept in a modest hotel in Melbourne since Thursday. visa was canceled Because of problems with medical exemptions.
Czech player Renata Vorakova was also detained and her visa revoked after her exemption issues.
Djokovic’s lawyer preparing a legal challenge They have until Saturday evening local time to cancel their visas, which are scheduled for hearing in a federal court on Monday, and to file a summary of their case.
But apart from thanking fans on Instagram for their support, Djokovic, one of the world’s richest athletes, has made no public appearances or comments since entering the Park Hotel, trying to enter the country. It is also home to dozens of asylum seekers. ,
Australian The newspaper reported that Djokovic had requested to visit his chef and a tennis court while in custody, but his request was denied. Anti-vaccine protesters, groups of Djokovic supporters and refugee advocates formed an unusual coalition outside the hotel, under police surveillance.
The Australian Border Force said it had revoked several other visas of those participating in the tournament, including Vorakova, who described the detention as like being in an action movie.
“I can’t say they were bad for me,” Czech media quoted Vorakova as saying when asked about the questioning by the authorities. “But I was not prepared for the way everything happened. I thought I was in an action movie.”
The federal and Victorian state governments and Tennis Australia have denied responsibility for the controversy, which has been condemned by the Serbian government.
‘not confused’
Tennis Australia said it never intentionally misled players and always urged players to get vaccinated news corporation The papers published a document from the organizing body clearly advising players on ways to enter the country with a medical exemption from vaccination.
“We have always been consistent in our communication to players that vaccination is the best course of action – not only as the right thing to do to protect themselves and others, but to ensure they can reach Australia, The best course of action is,” Tennis Australia said in a statement, quoting local media.
“We solemnly reject that the sports group was deliberately misled.”
The statement said Tennis Australia’s advice was based on content from a federal government website, sent by the federal health minister.
Tennis Australia did not respond Reuters Comment request.
Group information sheet published by news corporation, said players could enter the country with a “foreign medical exemption”, which was “reviewed by an Australian physician” then entered into a central database.
The document was distributed to players last month, news corporation Reported. But the federal government issued a letter it wrote to Tennis Australia in November that prior infection with COVID-19 was not a necessary ground for exemption in Australia, as it was elsewhere.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tilly defended the organization’s actions, according to a video that surfaced on Saturday.
In an address to Tennis Australia staff, Uploaded on news corporation Websites, Tilly said he would tell the full story about the saga, but was constrained as Djokovic was challenging the cancellation of his visa in court.
“We want to share all the information with you, and we will,” he said in the video.
“We have chosen not to get too public with it at this point and simply because there is a pending lawsuit relating to admissions to Australia. Once it has run its course, we will be able to share more.
“There is a lot of finger-pointing and a lot of blame going on, but I can assure you that our team has done an incredible job and did everything they possibly could according to the instructions given to them. “
Djokovic, 34, has not disclosed the basis of his exemption and has consistently refused to disclose his vaccination status. Vaccines are not mandatory in Australia but are required for some activities.
Rival Nick Kyrgios, who has emerged as an unlikely ally for Djokovic, said he is keen to avoid having to face the Serb if he manages to allow officials to play him.
“If he is allowed to play the Australian Open, I don’t want any hold on him,” the Australian told reporters in Sydney on Saturday. “He’s going to be very determined to play well, and stick with what everyone else is going through. And I don’t want that Novak any bar.”