A Tennis Australia source claimed the move was a publicity stunt that solely targeted Djokovic and not other players who had already entered with the same exemption.
Multiple Australian Open cars were stationed out the front of the airport, ready to transport competitors and staff as they arrived throughout the day.Credit:Nine
The 20-time grand slam winner, who had been granted an exemption to play in this month’s Australian Open, was questioned by Border Force officials in a room at Melbourne Airport overnight until early Thursday morning.
A Border Force statement said Djokovic had access to his phone while he was being questioned.
Earlier on Thursday, Djokovic’s father Srdjan Djokovic told a Serbian media outlet that his son had been separated from his team overnight and taken to a room where he remained under armed guard. “Novak is currently in a room where no one can enter,” he told the B92.
In comments reported by Russian news agency Sputnik, Djokovic’s father said: “I have no idea what is happening, they are holding my son in captivity for five hours.”
“I have no idea what is happening, they are holding my son in captivity for five hours.”
Srdjan Djokovic
“This is a fight for the liberal world, this is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world.”
Serbia’s President Aleksander Vucic said “the whole of Serbia” supported Djokovic. “Our authorities are taking all measures to stop the harassment of the best tennis player in the world in the shortest possible period,” Vucic posted to his Instagram account.
He said he had spoken to the tennis player on the phone this morning (AEDT). “In accordance with the norms of international public law, Serbia will fight for Novak Djokovic, for justice and truth. Otherwise, Novak is strong, as we all know him.”
A source close to Tennis Australia, speaking anonymously to discuss the situation, said it appeared federal officials had blocked Djokovic’s path to avoid the potentially unpopular appearance of allowing him into the country with a medical exemption.
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“I don’t know how the feds will [address the fact that] several tennis players are already in the country with the same exemption granted to Novak,” the source said.
“This looks to us like the feds are responding to the media by letting some players in but not the World No. 1.”
In a separate issue that complicated his arrival, acting Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford said Border Force officials contacted the state government hours before Djokovic landed. The 20-time grand slam winner was attempting to enter the country on a visa that did not permit medical exemptions for being unvaccinated, a source briefed on the matter told The Age and the Herald.
Victorian minister Jaala Pulford and tennis boss Craig Tiley on Wednesday.Credit:Luis Ascui
As a result, Ms Pulford said Border Force sought Victorian government support to facilitate Djokovic’s entry. The federal agency asked for the Andrews government’s support because Victoria partners with Tennis Australia in running the event that Djokovic’s visa pertains to. Victorian officials asked the federal authorities to put their request in writing and Ms Pulford said the request to sponsor Djokovic’s visa was rejected.
However, on Thursday morning a spokeswoman for Border Force and Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews rejected Ms Pulford’s claims.
Ms Pulford had sent a late-night tweet confirming that the Victorian government would not be supporting Djokovic’s visa application.
“The federal government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia. We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam,” the tweet said.
Ms Pulford went on to say: “We’ve always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the federal government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.”
Novak Djokovic, left, posted to Instagram confirming that he had been granted an “exemption permission” to play in Melbourne. Top right, the flight he arrived on. Bottom right, an Australian Open car outside the airport early Thursday morning.Credit:Nine
Earlier on Wednesday, the Victorian government and Tennis Australia told Djokovic to explain to the public why he was granted a medical exemption to enter the country without proving his vaccination status.
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Novak Djokovic threatens legal action after visa refusal leaves him stranded
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