Nine-time Australian Open champion may not be able to defend his 2021 title after his visa to enter Australia was canceled, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Thursday.
"The advice that I have literally just received before joining you is that the visa for Novak Djokovic has been canceled," he said at a news conference. "It's a matter for him whether he wishes to appeal that, but if a visa is canceled, somebody will have to leave the country."
Tournament organizers earlier said the Serb, who is trying to break the record for most men's grand slam singles titles, had received a medical exemption to play in the prestigious tennis tournament.
The exemption was met with controversy as Djokovic traveled to Melbourne on Wednesday.
after applying for a visa that does not permit medical exemptions for being unvaccinated for Covid-19, Australian news outlets reported.
According to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Border Force (ABF) contacted the state Victoria government after learning of an issue with the visa submitted by Djokovic's team while he was en route to the country.
The ABF confirmed in a statement that the 34-year-old player's visa had been revoked for failing to provide appropriate evidence for entry to the country.
"The Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our laws and entry requirements," the statement read.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the world No. 1 in men's tennis is subject to the same rules as everyone.
"Mr Djokovic's visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant,".
Players were told they would have to be fully vaccinated in order to participate or have a medical exemption granted by an independent panel of experts.
Djokovic, who is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 grand slam singles titles, has not publicly revealed his vaccination status.
The vaccine exemption sparked backlash in Australia.
Deputy Victorian Liberal Leader David Southwick to allow Djokovic to take part in this year's tournament "a disgrace," describing it as a "kick in the guts to every Victorian" who endured months of lockdowns and suffered personal setbacks during the pandemic.
Djokovic celebrates winning the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 21, 2021.
As events unfolded, Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic, told a Serbian radio station his son was being held "captive" by Australian officials following a visa application mix-up.
He told Serbian radio station B92 his son was being housed in a room that no one can enter, with two policemen in the front of the room.
"I have no idea what's going on. They're holding my son captive for five hours," Srdjan Djokovic said in a statement to Russian news agency Sputnik, according to B92. "This is a fight for the libertarian world, this is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world! If they don't let him go in half an hour, we will gather on the street. This is a fight for everyone."
Since the comments were made, there have been no reports of any gatherings in Belgrade or outside the Melbourne Airport.
Earlier on Wednesday, Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic posted a photo to social media from what appears to be the Melbourne Airport in Australia where Djokovic reportedly was being held, captioning it, "Not the most usual trip Down Under."
The Australian Open is set to run from January 17-30.
Organizers say two panels reviewed exemption application
Australian Open organizers said in a statement on Tuesday that Djokovic's exemption was "granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts."
During a news conference Wednesday, CEO of Tennis Australia Craig Tiley defended the impartiality of the medical exemption review process, telling reporters, "No one knew who the applicant was."
Calls for a boycott
Across anized in Croatia, but since then there have been no reports of him being re-infected with the virus.
"It's ultimately up to him to discuss with the public his condition if he chooses to do that and the reason why he received his exemption," Tiley said.
The ABF confirmed in a statement that the 34-year-old player's visa had been revoked for failing to provide appropriate evidence for entry to the country.
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