Djokovic, Australia: “He is not in detention, he can leave when he wants”

Australian authorities deny that Novak Djokovic is being held in custody, as reported by the entourage of the Serbian tennis player. “Mr. Djokovic is not detained in Australia, he is free to leave whenever he wants and the border police would help him,” Interior Minister Karen Andrews said, speaking to ABC broadcaster. The Serbian champion spent the night in a hotel used by the Israeli authorities to house immigrants, while his lawyers work on the appeal filed against the deportation order issued against him. The tennis player, holder of the Australian Open title, was detained on Wednesday upon his arrival at Melbourne airport, due to problems with his entry visa. Djokovic had initially obtained a vaccination exemption from the tournament organizers, which will start on January 17, but this was not deemed sufficient by the border police.