In the dispute over the entry of the Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic, his lawyers said in a court hearing on Saturday that their client was infected with the corona virus in December. The positive PCR test was dated December 16, which is the basis for the medical exemption.
Djokovic had previously been denied entry to Australia. The 34-year-old Serb wants to defend his title at the Australian Open there from January 17th. The organizers of the tournament made the corona vaccination for foreigners a condition of participation this year. Djokovic asked for a so-called medical exemption in order to be able to enter Australia. This practice suggests that the Serb is not vaccinated. In the past, he had expressed skepticism about a corona vaccination.
The tennis player was granted the exemption, but the border officers of the Border Force refused the 34-year-old entry on Thursday due to apparently incorrect documents. Djokovic has been in a quarantine hotel since then. His lawyers again filed a motion to move to a facility where Djokovic can prepare for the Australian Open. All previous such requests had been denied by the authorities. On Monday, a court should decide whether Djokovic gets an entry permit or not.
The reliance on an alleged positive PCR test result by Djokovic’s lawyers raises some questions. For example, why the tennis player did not present this certificate directly upon entry. It would have justified the medical exemption for unvaccinated people.
In addition, the tennis professional showed himself on December 17th, one day after his allegedly positive corona test at a youth ceremony at the “Novak Tennis Center” in Belgrade. There he willingly took selfies and a group photo with Serbia’s best tennis kids – without quarantine, without a mask and without any distance.
Australian Home Secretary Karen Andrews said Friday Djokovic was not detained. He is free to leave the country whenever he wants.