Novak Djokovic was held for eight hours upon arriving in Australia, the majority of which was spent ‘incommunicado,’ according to his lawyers, three days into his imprisonment in a Melbourne facility.
“This occurred after he was in immigration clearance for roughly eight hours, for the most part incommunicado, until just before 8:00 a.m. on January 6, 2022,” his lawyers wrote in a federal court filing seeking to overturn his visa cancellation.
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Djokovic’s lawyers said in a court filing on Saturday that he was awarded a Covid-19 vaccine exemption after testing positive for the virus in December.
Following the rejection of a vaccine exemption to play in the Australian Open, the world number one has requested to be moved to a facility where he may practice for the tournament, according to his attorneys.
“The date of the first positive Covid PCR test was recorded on December 16, 2021,” Novak’s lawyers wrote in a federal court motion seeking to have his Australian entrance visa revoked.
On Monday, Djokovic, a vocal vaccine opponent, will have his case heard in court.
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When Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday, border officers tore up his entrance visa for failing to meet the country’s strict Covid-19 immunisation requirements.
Foreigners are still mostly barred from visiting Australia, and those who do are required to be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.
