Djokovic is awaiting arrest in Australia while lawyers discuss the state of the vaccine with Reuters

By Courtney Walsh and Cordelia Hsu

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one Novak Djokovic spent a second day in Australian immigration custody on Friday for his lawyer to play in the Australian Open and fight to secure his release from the harsh vaccine conditions COVID-19.

Australian Interior Minister Karen Andrews responded to suggestions from Serbian supporters, including Djokovic’s family, that she was being “held captive” and stressed that the star player was free to leave the country at any time.

Djokovic, who has been chasing a 21st Melbourne Grand Slam record since January 17, was arrested at the airport when he arrived on Wednesday evening.

His entry visa, aided by an exception to the country’s vaccination requirements, was revoked, and his lawyers obtained legal approval to remain in the country until the full hearing scheduled for Monday.

“Mr Djokovic is not an Australian captive, he is free to leave at any time and the Border Force will make it easier,” he told reporters.

Spanish champion Rafael Nadal told Melbourne reporters that he felt sorry for his opponent, “but at the same time, he knew the conditions many months ago.”

However, American tennis player Tennys Sandgren, who said he was against the mandatory vaccination, sent his help.

“Novak, stay strong, friend,” Sandgren told Reuter. “I hope to get out of there soon.”

Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, posted on Instagram a photo of the couple embracing on a beach celebrating Orthodox Christmas on Friday, saying “the only law we should all respect at all boundaries is love and respect for other human beings”.

Djokovic’s family held a moving press conference on Thursday at their restaurant in Belgrade, which featured nine previous Australian Open trophies before protesting in front of parliament.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the Australian government of harassment and harassment, allegations that Canberra has denied.

“They are being held captive. They are oppressing Novak all over Serbia,” Srdjan Djokovic said of his son.

POLITICAL ATOR

Some critics say Prime Minister Scott Morrison is using the issue to increase credentials against the pandemic because elections will be held in the coming months amid a rise in new COVID-19 infections, the government denies.

The initial decision to grant an exemption to Djokovic, who refused to disclose his vaccination status while publicly criticizing compulsory vaccinations, was widely criticized in more than 90% of the population in a country with double vaccination.

Djokovic will appear in court on Monday when a judge tries to clarify the complexities of the Australian federal system, which state and territory can grant vaccination exemptions but the federal government controls international borders and vetoes those exceptions.

As Australia’s daily COVID-19 infections have been on record, with hospital overcrowding and labor shortages, Morrison’s Conservative government and the left-wing Victoria government have discussed responsibility for the situation.

Djokovic was granted permission to enter Victoria by the state government, which has no authority to issue visas to international visitors. Although the reason for his medical exception was not officially released, The Age newspaper reported that he had been contracting COVID-19 for the past six months.

Arriving in Melbourne on Wednesday night, however, officials at the airport’s Federal Border Forces said Djokovic could not justify his reasons for the exception.

Morrison said Tennis Australia was informed a few weeks ago that a recent infection did not meet the exemption criteria, although a government team that provided guidance on the issues recommended that an infection should be sufficient in the last six months.

Government officials from Tennis Australia and Victoria said Djokovic had not been given preferential treatment, adding that he was “in a handful” of exceptions in an anonymous and independent assessment of 26 applications.