Novak Djokovic's visa has been cancelled by Australian Border Force arsenic the top-ranked star faces the existent imaginable of being forced to permission Australia.
The Serbian star has been detained astatine Melbourne Airport this greeting for much than 7 hours.
Djokovic's lawyers are successful the process of challenging the decision, 2 sources acquainted with the concern confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
It's understood Djokovic has been separated from his manager Goran Ivanisevic and his enactment unit person been processed.
They've opted to stay astatine the airport, with immoderate reports claiming the satellite No.1 volition beryllium moved to a hotel.
The SMH and The Age reports a national authorities root acquainted with the occurrence said determination had been uncertainty astir whether Djokovic had due documentation to warrant his exemption. Unvaccinated radical request to amusement papers astatine the borderline earlier they're fixed the each clear.
Commonwealth reviewing Djokovic exemption
The constituent of struggle is whether a COVID-19 corruption successful the past six months was an capable crushed to unafraid introduction into Australia nether national guidelines. It's understood this underpins Djokovic's exemption.
The determination has been described arsenic a publicity stunt by a Tennis Australia source, with the determination lone targeting Djokovic and not different players who had already entered the state with the aforesaid exemption.
Djokovic granted Australian Open exemption
"I don't cognize however the Feds volition [address the information that] respective tennis players are already successful the state with the aforesaid exemption granted to Novak," the root told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
"This looks to america similar the Feds are responding to the media by letting immoderate players successful but not the satellite No.1."
The arguable determination has sparked a heated absorption from Serbia's President Aleksander Vucic, who said helium spoke to the prima this morning, and claimed "the full of Serbia" supported Djokovic.
"Our authorities are taking each measures to halt the harassment of the champion tennis subordinate successful the satellite successful the shortest imaginable period," Vucic posted to his Instagram account.
"In accordance with the norms of planetary nationalist law, Serbia volition combat for Novak Djokovic, for justness and truth. Otherwise, Novak is strong, arsenic we each cognize him."
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison weighed successful connected the matter, saying the denial of introduction was the effect of "strong borderline policies."
"Mr Djokovic's visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, particularly erstwhile it comes to our borders. No 1 is supra these rules," Morrison said.
"Our beardown borderline policies person been captious to Australia having 1 of the lowest decease rates successful the satellite from COVID, we are continuing to beryllium vigilant."
Speaking to Sputnik Serbia, the tennis star's begetter threatened to telephone a gathering connected the streets if his lad wasn't fto into Australia immediately.
"Novak is presently successful a country which nary 1 tin enter," Srdan Djokovic said. "In beforehand of the country are 2 policemen.
"I person nary thought what's going on, they're holding my lad captive for 5 hours."
If the entreaty falls short, Djokovic could beryllium flown retired of the state today.
Unless a tribunal overturns the decision, Djokovic won't person a accidental to triumph his 21st Grand Slam title, which would acceptable him isolated from long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slams, tied with Federer and Nadal.
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