Courtney Walsh and Cordeliahsu

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – World number 1 Novak Djokovic was detained in Australia’s immigration custody on Friday. His lawyers tried to get him released to participate in the Australian Open. He is exempted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements.

Karen Andrews, the Australian Minister for Home Affairs, rebuffed suggestions from Serbian fans, including Djokovic’s family that Djokovic was being held “captive”, and stressed that the player can leave Australia at any moment.

Djokovic was on track to break the record for Melbourne’s 21st Grand Slam starting in January 17th. He arrived at the airport Wednesday night.

The exemption from country’s vaccination requirements was what supported his entry visa. His lawyers were able to scramble to get legal approval to allow him to stay in the country up to Monday.

She said that Mr. Djokovic was not held in Australia and that he can leave whenever he wants. Border Force will facilitate this.

Rafael Nadal of Spain was adamant that he feels sorry for Rafael Nadal. However, Rafael said to reporters in Melbourne that he also knew what the situation was since months back.

Tennys Sandgren from the USA, an American tennis player, said that he opposes mandatory vaccination and sent his support.

“Novak, stay strong, buddy,” Sandgren told Reuters. “Hope that you can get out of here soon.”

Jelena Djokovic, Jelena’s wife posted an Instagram photo of them embracing at a beach in Orthodox Christmas. It stated that “the only law we all need to respect across any single border is the love and respect for other human beings.”

Djokovic’s family hosted an emotional news conference at Belgrade’s restaurant on Thursday with nine of his Australian Open trophies displayed. Then, they protested before going to parliament.

Aleksandar Vucic (Serbian President) accused the Australian government harassment and persecution. Canberra rejected those allegations.

He is being held captive by them. “They are stomping over Novak to stomp over Serbia,” Srdjan Dajokovic stated about his son.

POLITICAL BACKDROP

Some believe that Scott Morrison uses the issue to promote his pandemic-fighting abilities with an election coming up in the near future amid record levels of COVID-19 infected. However, the government refutes these claims.

Djokovic has repeatedly refused to reveal his vaccination status and publicly criticised mandatory vaccines. His initial exemption was heavily criticized in a country with more than 90% double vaccinated.

Djokovic will be seen in court Monday as a judge attempts the unravelling of Australia’s federal system. The federal system allows states and territories to issue vaccine exemptions while the federal government has international control and can veto these exemptions.

Australia’s COVID-19 infection rate was at an all-time high, putting a strain on hospitals and leading to shortages of labour. Morrison’s conservative government has fought with the Victoria state government.

Djokovic was granted permission by the state government to enter Victoria. The state government does not have visa authority. The reason for Djokovic’s medical exemption wasn’t officially disclosed, but The Age newspaper stated that it was due to the fact that he had contracted COVID-19 during the previous six-month period.

Officials from Federal Border Force at Melbourne’s airport stated that Djokovic could not justify his exclusion upon his arrival Wednesday night.

Morrison stated that Tennis Australia was advised by Morrison weeks ago that there had not been a recent infected. However, a task force of government officials that advises on these matters recommended that an infection within the last six months be enough to allow for exclusion.

Officials from Tennis Australia and Victoria said Djokovic did not receive preferential treatment and that they were among the “a few” who had been approved for exemptions after an anonymous assessment of 26 applicants.