Novak Djokovic thanked his support “across the world”, Friday Orthodox Christmas Day, from the Melbourne detention center where he was placed following the cancellation of his visa due to the vagueness surrounding his vaccination situation.
• Read also: Why was Djokovic’s visa canceled?
His case is still controversial in Australia, but also in Serbia.
“Thank you to my family, loved ones, Serbia, and all the good people around the world who send me their support. Thank you to God for the health ”, he wrote on Instagram in a message in Serbian, a first reaction since his arrival“ Down Under ”.
A believer, he also wished a Merry Christmas to the Orthodox as around fifty people gathered under his windows in the detention center.
“We come to support him because it is our Christmas and he is going through a difficult period”, commented Sash Aleksic in front of the establishment used by the Australian government to detain people in an irregular situation and where the Serbian player, although his presence has not been officially confirmed.
Among the demonstrators, activists defending the rights of migrants and “antivax” or admirers of the player.
Visa canceled
The Serb was placed in detention following the cancellation of his visa to enter Australia, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, on the grounds that he did not meet the strict conditions of entry into the territory imposed as part of the the fight once morest COVID-19.
Most foreigners are not allowed to travel to Australia, and those who can must be fully immunized. Only Australian nationals are eligible for a medical waiver – like the one the world number claimed when it left for Melbourne.
According to the Australian government, the papers of the 34-year-old player, who had opposed compulsory vaccination and whose vaccination status is unknown, did not meet the required conditions. He was therefore placed in detention pending his deportation.
He will not be deported until Monday, the date of a new hearing before a judge in Melbourne.
But the Australian imbroglio is already asking questions regarding the rest of his season if he does not vaccinate, including tournaments in the United States where the vaccine is mandatory to enter the territory.
The next Grand Slam tournament is Roland-Garros in the spring and the French Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu assured Friday that “health protocols imposed for major events by the federations” allow “someone like Novak Djokovic to be able to enter on the territory ”of France.
Thursday in Belgrade, the player’s family had already organized a demonstration in support of his protégé.
Without holding back his fury, the player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, addressed the crowd to denounce a “political witch hunt” and a “corona-fascism”.
Serbian President himself, Aleksandar Vucic, on Thursday denounced a “political hunt” targeting Novak Djokovic.
On the Australian side, the feeling is quite different: many inhabitants of the country, who endured nearly two years of travel bans and months of confinement, did not hide their anger when they learned that the player had a waiver .
Several players have also expressed their questions regarding the exemption obtained by Djokovic, but the latter recorded Friday the support – rather unexpected – of the whimsical Nick Kyrgios.
“I got the vaccine because of other people and for my mother’s health, but the way we are dealing with Novak’s situation is bad, really bad,” said the Australian star, who had been very critical when Djokovic had organized in June 2020, at the start of the pandemic, an “Adria Tour” ignoring all health precautionary measures.
“Free to go”
Djokovic had landed in Melbourne on Wednesday in hopes of defending his Australian Open title (January 17-30) and winning a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.
Two other people who came to participate in the Australian Open are also the subject of an investigation, also confirmed the Minister of the Interior Karen Andrews.
The latter also denied allegations that the champion was being held once morest his will: “He is free to leave when he wishes and the border guards will facilitate his departure. “
Australian Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison, already struggling ahead of the elections, has defended having revoked Djokovic’s visa at the last minute.
John Findley, an Australian immigration lawyer, said if the court found the player had provided false information, he would be barred from further applying for an Australian visa for three years.