After hours of interrogation, the Australian authorities have denied entry to tennis world number one Novak Djokovic down under. The Serb has to leave the country again in the course of Thursday.
As the Australian newspaper “The Age” and the Serbian “Blic” reported and the local border guard confirmed a little later, Novak Djokovic was informed by the Australian authorities early on Thursday morning (local time) that his visa had been refused for entry. The Serb would have to leave the country again in the course of the day.
“Non-citizens who do not have a valid visa upon entry or whose visa has been canceled will be detained and expelled from Australia,” the statement said.
Djokovic’s lawyers are consulting according to the report and are considering appealing the decision, an unnamed source told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. It was not initially clear whether the Serb would leave the country immediately or wait for his lawyers to intervene.
The main reason for the decision of the authorities were, among other things, doubts about the evidence that supported the Serb’s exemption. In addition, the officials also complained about the false visa that the number one in the tennis world presented on entry.
An unnamed source from the Australian Tennis Association complained to “The Age” that Djokovic’s expulsion was merely a publicity stunt. According to the association employee, other players who showed the same exemption had previously been allowed into the country.
Djokovic interrogated for several hours
Djokovic landed in Melbourne in a private jet at 11:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, was then detained on the plane and then interrogated by the authorities for several hours.
While Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic and other parts of his team stayed in the airport, the superstar answered questions from the officials. The Serb is said to have been denied access to members of his team. Father Srdjan Djokovic then accused the authorities in the Serbian media, saying that his son was being treated like a criminal.
Serbia’s President supports Djokovic
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had switched on Wednesday evening in the curious hangover about the entry of the tennis star. “I had a phone conversation with him and told him that all of Serbia is with him,” wrote Vucic on Instagram.
He continued: “Our authorities will take all measures to stop the harassment of the best tennis player in the world in the shortest possible time. In accordance with all norms of international law, Serbia will fight for Novak Djokovic, for justice and truth.”
.
ttn-9