Coronavirus: Novak Djokovic begins 3rd day in detention as Australia hits 100,000 cases for the first time

The Serbian tennis star, who had arrived for the Australian Open, has been holed up in a Melbourne hotel since having his visa cancelled due to issues with a medical exemption

Elsewhere, a group of Covid-positive Italian travellers have reportedly fled quarantine in India, while Sri Lanka has revoked a ban on three cricketers who breached Covid rules in the UK

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A billboard depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on a building in Belgrade, Serbia. Photo: AP

Published: 12:36pm, 8 Jan 2022

Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic began a third day in Australian immigration detention on Saturday, joined by Czech women’s player Renata Voracova as a blame game between Australian authorities over handling of Covid-19 vaccine exemptions gathered steam.

The Serbian superstar, a vocal opponent of vaccine mandates who came to Australia in hopes of winning his 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open, has been holed up since Thursday in a modest Melbourne hotel since having his visa cancelled due to problems with a medical exemption.

Activists carry banners outside outside the Park hotel quarantine facility in Melbourne. Photo: EPA-EFE

His lawyers are preparing a legal challenge to his visa cancellation, which is scheduled to go to a federal court hearing on Monday, and have been given until Saturday evening to file a summary of their case.

Other than a short Instagram post thanking fans for their support, Djokovic has made no public appearance or comment since entering the Park Hotel, which is also home to dozens of asylum seekers trying to enter the country.

The Australian newspaper reported that Djokovic had requested access to his chef and a tennis court while in detention but that his request was denied.

A supporter of Novak Djokovic rallies outside the Park Hotel in Melbourne. Photo: Reuters

Australia on Saturday reported more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases for the first time in a single day, as home test results were included and some restrictions were reintroduced to ease pressure on a health system stressed by the fast-spreading Omicron variant.