Novak Djokovic: Australia cancels top tennis player’s visaon January 5, 2022 at 9:48 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The player was due to play in the Australian Open after being exempted from vaccination rules.

Breaking News image

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to Australia over an issue with his visa.

The player arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday where authorities noticed a mistake on his application.

Djokovic was due to play in the Australian Open, after being exempted from vaccination rules.

He has been told he will be deported but his lawyers have said they will challenge the decision, Australian media report.

The tennis star had been quizzed in a room at Melbourne airport for hours while his visa and exemption status was being investigated.

His team had not requested a visa that permits medical exemptions for being unvaccinated.

It is not clear whether he will remain in Australia while his lawyers attempt to overturn the decision.

Djokovic has not spoken about his vaccination status, but last year he said he was “opposed to vaccination”.

His treatment has provoked outrage in his native Serbia. Djokovic’s father, Srdjan Djokovic said his son was had been in a room guarded by police.

President Aleksander Vucic said the star was a victim of “harassment”, and that “the whole of Serbia”, supported him.

Earlier, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic would be refused entry to the country unless he provided evidence that he could not be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Australia is seeing tens of thousands of Covid-19 cases for the first time after enduring some of the world’s strictest restrictions.

The Australian Open begins on 17 January in Melbourne.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Ranil Wickremesinghe: Sri Lanka’s new prime minister faces uphill battleon May 12, 2022 at 6:37 pm

He may enjoy good ties with India and the West but Ranil Wickremesinghe has little support at home.

Graduates in England facing tax rise by stealth, says IFSon January 29, 2022 at 2:31 pm

The warning from the IFS comes as the threshold for repaying student loans is frozen this year.Image source, Getty ImagesGraduates in England face a...

Pandora Papers: The secret owners of UK property worth billionson October 5, 2021 at 5:01 am

Foreign politicians and people accused of corruption have bought homes through offshore firms.

Premiership: Bristol Bears 20-36 Sale – Sharks secure play-off placeon April 14, 2023 at 9:17 pm

Sale Sharks seal their place in the Premiership play-offs with a 36-20 win over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium.Sale Sharks seal their place...

UN drugs: Colombia beats its own coca growing recordon October 20, 2022 at 11:23 pm

The UN says Colombia has increased its cultivation of the plant - the main ingredient in cocaine.The UN says Colombia has increased its cultivation...