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Australian Home Secretary Karen Andrews has rejected claims that Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is a “prisoner” at a quarantine hotel in Australia.
Defenders of the title at the Australian Open Grand Slam were detained after arriving in the country due to visa problems at the airport and later transported to the Park Hotel in Melbourne, a state quarantine facility that is a temporary home for asylum seekers.
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“Mr Djokovic is not a prisoner. He may leave at any time if he so decides. ” the DPA quoted a civil servant. She responded to the words of Serb’s father Srdjan Djokovic, who described the son as a prisoner and pointed out that the authorities treated him completely differently than the other 25 players who applied for a medical exemption in order to start at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has appealed to a local court in an attempt to reverse his deportation decision from Australia. The court prevented his immediate expulsion. The case will continue on Monday at 10.00 local time (00.00 CET). Although Djokovic received a medical exemption for the unvaccinated from the tournament organizers, the problems arose after a 14-hour flight from Dubai to Melbourne, where they found that he did not have the correct visa to enter the exemption.
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A question mark hung over Djokovic’s participation in the tournament for a long time. The Serb refused to say whether he was vaccinated against the coronavirus, which is a condition of the host state of Victoria. The nine-time champion from Melbourne claimed that information about the vaccination was his private matter. He announced on social media on Tuesday that he had received a medical exemption and was heading to Melbourne, where he wanted to fight for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
However, the vaccination exemption granted to him by the tournament organizers after his request was approved by two medical commissions, according to the AFP agency, provoked a huge wave of resentment among Australians. They have been facing severe coronavirus restrictions for two years. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said that Djokovic’s start to the Australian Open was not over yet.
Although the organizers decide to participate in the tournament and grant an exemption, entry into the country must be approved by the federal government. It is responsible for border measures and visas. Like all unvaccinated passengers who want to enter Australia by way of exception, Djokovic had to provide the relevant documents to immigration officials upon arrival.
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