Novak Djokovic, who is fighting deportation from Australia, tested positive for COVID-19 on 16 December, according to court documents.
The tennis world number one is in immigration detention following the cancellation of his visa on Thursday, hours after he arrived at Melbourne airport.
The 34-year-old Serbian said in his court application he had a valid visa and medical exemption from the organiser of the Australian Open – a tournament the defending champion is hoping to compete in later this month.
Why is Djokovic being denied entry to Australia – and what are their travel rules?
Two other people connected to the Australian Open voluntarily left the country after being told to do so by border officials.
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Renata Voracova has voluntarily left Australia after being told to do so by border officials
One of them is Czech player Renata Voracova, whose visa was also revoked due to issues with her exemption.
Djokovic, who has previously been a critic of mandatory vaccination, is currently embroiled in a row over whether he is exempt from the country’s COVID inoculation rules.
Djokovic ‘told he met travel requirements’
The application says he received a document from the Department of Home Affairs on 1 January telling him he met the requirements for quarantine-free travel into Australia.
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Djokovic supporters gather outside hotel
Djokovic’s lawyers said he received an exemption certificate from Tennis Australia, which was “proed by an Independent Expert Medical Review panel” whose decision was endorsed by the Victorian state government’s own medical exemptions panel.
Reports say Tennis Australia told unvaccinated players they may be able to obtain a temporary exemption if they had recovered from COVID in the past six months, according to a leaked letter.
Tennis Australia ‘did not mislead players’
Tennis Australia said it had not knowingly misled players and had always urged players to get vaccinated.
The guidance issued was based on information on a national government website to which it had been referred by the federal health minister, the association said.
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Djokovic’s mum: ‘It’s a very difficult time’
“We have always been consistent in our communications to players that vaccination is the best course of action – not just as the right thing to do to protect themselves and others, but also as the best course of action to ensure they could arrive in Australia,” Tennis Australia said in a statement quoted by local media.
Federal government denies responsibility
News Corp media outlets said the association distributed its guidance last month.
However, the federal government released a letter showing it wrote to Tennis Australia in November saying that a previous COVID infection was not necessarily grounds for exemption in Australia, as it is in some other countries.
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Djokovic speaks out
The date Djokovic said he tested positive for coronavirus – 16 December – was the same day he was presented with a stamp by the Serbian national postal service at the PTT Museum in the capital Belgrade. He tweeted about the presentation the following day.
An honor to receive my very own Serbian stamp. Thank you to my generous country for this rare gift! I’m humbled!! Excited to share we’ll partner with the Serbian National Postal Service on @novakfoundation projects for every child to have the opportunity to attend preschool 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Ww8Zma95NU
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) December 17, 2021
The tennis player will argue for his visa to be reinstated at a court hearing on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic said they sent a diplomatic note to Australian authorities and are waiting for a reaction.
Voracova’s decision to leave was “not based on grounds of deportation”, they said, adding that it was her “own decision” to stop participating in the tournament.
What people in Australia think of the case
Sky News spoke to people in Australia to see if they were sympathetic to Djokovic’s case.
Sonia, from Melbourne, said he “definitely should be freed”, adding: “If he’s got natural immunity, there’s no reason why he needs to be essentially locked up in what we think is a detention centre in these sort of inhumane conditions.”
She said Australian citizens like herself can get an exemption for up to six months for natural immunity and she doesn’t see “why he should be treated any differently”.
Brad disagreed, saying: “I think if the rules are that you need to be double vaccinated to enter this country, then that should apply equally to everyone.”
