Top-ranked Novak Djokovic spends religious day in detention

Be it visa or vaccination waivers or whatever, the reality for tennis No 1 Novak Djokovic was spending a significant religious holiday at a detention hotel in Australia on Friday working on his challenge against deportation.

Djokovic is getting calls from Serbia, including his parents and the president, hoping to boost his spirits. A priest at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Melbourne has sought permission from immigration officials to visit the nine-time Australian Open champion to celebrate an Orthodox Christmas.

"Our Christmas is rich in many customs and it is so important that a priest visits him," the church's dean Milorad Locard told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "The whole thing surrounding this incident is horrifying. That he has to spend Christmas in custody... it's unimaginable."

Supporters of Djokovic gathered outside the Park Hotel, which housed refugees and asylum seekers near downtown Melbourne, waving flags and banners.

He joined with human rights advocates who were more to highlight the plight of other long-term people in custody, many who have long complained about their living conditions and exposure to the coronavirus in the pandemic.

Both the prime minister and the home affairs minister said that it was the individual's responsibility to have their visa documents in order, it seems, that the locals found out whatever mistakes were made in the process, one of the highest profile athletes. The world was in custody.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported later on Friday that 38-year-old Czech doubles player Renata Vorakova's visa had been revoked and she was taken to the same hotel where Djokovic is staying. Tennis Australia and Australia's Department of Home Affairs did not immediately respond to calls for confirmation.

Djokovic had flown to Australia, in the belief that he had everything he needed to compete, as he had been approved by the Victoria state government for a medical exemption.

The same evidence did not follow Australian government regulations.

So, instead of bidding to defend his Australian Open title and win a men's record 21st major title, he is preparing to go to Federal Circuit Court on Monday to challenge his visa cancellation and deportation.

Attention is being drawn from Djokovic's vaccination status - a poignant topic in a city where people spent so long in lockdown and were subject to harsh travel restrictions - and questions about how the nine-time Australian Open champion was injured in the situation. can be.

Even some people who have been critical of Djokovic in the past are now in his corner.

Nick Kyrgios, an Australian player and outspoken critic of some of Djokovic's opinions, said: "Look, I certainly believe in taking action, I've been vaccinated for the cause of others and my mother's health, but we're going to take Novak's position." How are you handling it, it's very bad, really bad." On vaccination, posted on Twitter. “This is one of our great champions, but in the end, he is human. perform better."

Jelena Djokovic posted on social media to thank her husband's supporters.

"Thank you, dear people around the world, for using your voice to send love to my husband," she posted on Twitter. "I'm taking a deep breath to calm down and find gratitude (and understanding) for whatever is happening in this moment."

Critics of the medical exemption have said that if there were no loopholes, there would be none in Djokovic's position right now. And while players have expressed sympathy for Djokovic's situation, some have said vaccination could have prevented problems.

Djokovic has been a vaccine skeptic, and has declined to admit whether he had shots for COVID-19, but there can be little doubt that he traveled to Australia, assuming his paperwork Action was all in order.

Medical-exempt applications from players, their teams and tennis officials were scrutinized by two independent panels of medical experts at the state level. There was a sanctioned waiver to allow Djokovic into the tournament.

But when he landed at the airport, the Australian government's border force revoked Djokovic's visa, saying he "failed to provide appropriate evidence of meeting entry requirements."

Australia's strict COVID-19 laws dictate that arriving travelers must have two shots of an approved vaccine, or be exempt with a genuine medical reason, such as a serious condition, to avoid quarantine.

Tennis Australia said Djokovic's waiver request was accepted "after a rigorous review process." Neither Tennis Australia nor Djokovic gave reasons for seeking a waiver.

The Australian Border Force dismissed his exemption as invalid, canceled his visa and then transferred him to an immigration hotel. His lawyers acted urgently to make sure he could stay until Monday, when a federal judge would hear his challenge, a week before the Australian Open begins.

Following news of the visa cancellation, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tilly defended a "perfectly valid application and process" and insisted there was no special treatment for Djokovic.

He said only 26 people associated with the tournament applied for a medical exemption - to avoid the rule that all players, staff, officials and fans entering Melbourne Park must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 Required - and only a "handful" was given. , No one has been publicly identified except for Djokovic, who himself posted it on social media. However, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said on Friday that two others were under investigation.