Novak Djokovic, the tennis great, has acknowledged making errors on his immigration documents and meeting with a journalist while testing positive for COVID, as Australia considers deporting him.
Djokovic made the comments in an Instagram post in order to clear up “ongoing misinformation” regarding his travels. The world number one in men’s tennis hopes to compete in the Australian Open next week. However, his participation has been clouded by a visa dispute.
Djokovic’s visa was canceled on January 6, just after he arrived in Australia, amid concerns about the vaccination exemption that would have allowed him to enter.
However, on Monday, a court overruled the ruling and ordered the player’s release from detention.
However, the government has not ruled out additional action, and it is possible that the country’s immigration minister will cancel his visa for the second time just days before the tournament begins.
Alex Hawke has the authority to revoke the visa based on earlier COVID infections that did not qualify for an exemption. However, Djokovic’s visa might be revoked on “character grounds” as a result of an inquiry into his entry form and probable violations of Serbia’s COVID guidelines.
If Djokovic wins his 21st grand slam, he would become the most successful male tennis player in history.
Djokovic claimed in an Instagram post that he went forward with the interview, titled “L’Equipe” in French, because he “didn’t want to let the journalist down.”
“[I ensured] I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken,” he explained.
The tennis player wore a mask the entire time, according to L’Equipe, even when their reporter urged him to take it off for five minutes.
Franck Ramella, a journalist, stated he was ordered not to question Djokovic about his vaccination status or the impending Australian Open, so he “therefore did not ask if he had considered doing a test” “Even if we did ask, what would be the point?” Mr Ramella penned the letter.
Djokovic also acknowledged to lying on his travel form prior to entering Australia and stated his team had presented authorities with further information.
He claimed that his agent made an error when filling out a part of the form that detailed his recent travel history. According to the paperwork, he had not traveled in the 14 days leading up to his arrival in Australia. However, according to recent sources, the 34-year-old had previously visited Serbia and then Spain.
He added, “My agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box,” “This was a human error and certainly not deliberate.”
On Tuesday, Australia’s Border Force, the country’s immigration officers, said they were looking into whether he had submitted a “false declaration” which may result in his visa being revoked.
The men’s professional tennis circuit has advised players to be vaccinated and sought for more clarification on the criteria for entering Australia.