Djokovic Spends Orthodox Christmas in Immigration Hotel as Crowds Gather

Regardless of who made an mistake connected the visa oregon the vaccination waiver oregon whatever, the world Friday for tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic was spending 1 of his important spiritual holidays successful an Australian detention edifice moving connected his situation against deportation.

Djokovic has been receiving calls from Serbia, including from his parents and the president, hoping to boost his spirits. A clergyman from the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church successful Melbourne sought support from migration authorities to sojourn the nine-time Australian Open champion to observe the Orthodox Christmas.

“Our Christmas is affluent successful galore customs and it is truthful important that a clergyman visits him,” the church's dean, Milorad Locard, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "The full happening astir this lawsuit is appalling. That helium has to walk Christmas successful detention ... it is unthinkable.”

Djokovic's supporters gathered extracurricular the Park Hotel, utilized to location refugees and asylum seekers adjacent downtown Melbourne, waving flags and banners.

They mixed with quality rights advocates who were determination much to item the plight of different longer-term radical successful detention, galore who person agelong complained astir their surviving conditions and vulnerability to the coronavirus successful the pandemic.

A time aft some the premier curate and the location affairs curate said it was the work of the idiosyncratic to person their visa documents successful order, it seemed to dawn connected radical locally that immoderate mistakes happened successful the process, 1 of the highest-profile athletes successful the satellite was successful detention.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported aboriginal Friday that Renata Voracova, a 38-year-old doubles subordinate from the Czech Republic, had her visa canceled and was taken to the aforesaid edifice wherever Djokovic is staying. Tennis Australia and Australia's Home Affairs section did not instantly respond to calls for confirmation.

Djokovic flew to Australia assured helium had everything helium needed to compete, fixed helium had been approved by Victoria authorities authorities for a aesculapian exemption.

That aforesaid grounds didn't comply with the Australian government's regulations.

So, alternatively of preparing to support his Australian Open title, and bid to triumph a men's-record 21st large title, he's preparing to spell to the Federal Circuit Court connected Monday to situation his visa cancellation and deportation.

Attention is moving distant from Djokovic’s vaccination presumption — a touchy taxable successful a metropolis wherever radical spent truthful agelong successful lockdown and were taxable to harsh question restrictions — and onto questions astir however the nine-time Australian Open champion could person coiled up successful this situation.

Even immoderate who person been captious of Djokovic successful the past are present successful his corner.

“Look, I decidedly judge successful taking action, I got vaccinated due to the fact that of others and for my mums health, but however we are handling Novak’s concern is bad, truly bad,” Nick Kyrgios, an Australian subordinate and outspoken professional of immoderate of Djokovic’s opinions connected vaccinations, posted connected Twitter. “This is 1 of our large champions but astatine the extremity of the day, helium is human. Do better.”

Jelena Djokovic posted connected societal media to convey her husband's supporters.

“Thank you beloved people, each astir the satellite for utilizing your dependable to nonstop emotion to my husband,” she posted connected Twitter. “I americium taking a heavy enactment to calm down and find gratitude (and understanding) successful this infinitesimal for each that is happening.”

Critics of the aesculapian exemptions person said if determination were nary loopholes, past cipher would beryllium successful Djokovic's presumption close now. And portion players person sympathized with Djokovic's situation, immoderate person said getting vaccinated would person prevented the problems.

Djokovic has been a vaccine skeptic, and has declined to admit if he's had shots for COVID-19, but determination can't beryllium immoderate uncertainty helium traveled to Australia believing his paperwork was each successful order.

The medical-exemption applications from players, their teams and tennis officials were vetted by 2 autarkic panels of aesculapian experts astatine the authorities level. Djokovic had an approved exemption allowing him into the tournament.

But erstwhile helium landed astatine the airport, the Australian government’s Border Force canceled Djokovic’s visa, saying helium “failed to supply due grounds to conscionable the introduction requirements.”

Australia’s strict COVID-19 laws dictate that incoming travelers indispensable person had 2 shots of an approved vaccine, oregon indispensable person an exemption with a genuine aesculapian reason, specified arsenic an acute condition, to debar quarantine.

Tennis Australia said Djokovic’s petition for an exemption “was granted pursuing a rigorous reappraisal process.” Neither Tennis Australia nor Djokovic revealed the crushed helium sought an exemption.

The Australian Border Force rejected his exemption arsenic invalid, canceled his visa and past moved him to the migration hotel. His lawyers worked urgently to guarantee helium could enactment until Monday, erstwhile the a national justice volition perceive his challenge, a week earlier the Australian Open is acceptable to start.

After the quality broke of the visa cancellation, Australian Open tourney manager Craig Tiley defended the “completely morganatic exertion and process” and insisted determination was nary peculiar attraction for Djokovic.

He said lone 26 radical connected with the tourney applied for a aesculapian exemption — to debar the regularisation that each players, staff, officials and fans needed to beryllium afloat vaccinated for COVID-19 to participate Melbourne Park — and lone a “handful” were granted. None, but Djokovic, who posted it himself connected societal media, were publically identified. However, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews connected Friday said 2 others were nether investigation.

Tiley hasn't commented officially since then.