The Sun
TENNIS fans are used to on court drama – but the saga of the World No 1’s visa row is proving even more gripping.
The latest twist in Novak Djokovic’s detainment debacle, which has been rolling on for a week, is his father claiming he has been re-arrested in Australia.
It started when the anti-vaxxer boasted, on January 4, that he was heading to Melbourne to play at the Australian Open after being given an exemption.
But on arrival, the Serbian ace was held at an immigration centre after his visa was dramatically cancelled, and then housed in a quarantine hotel.
Lawyers for the 20-time Grand Slam winner argued that Djokovic didn’t need to have the vaccine as he had already had Covid and that border force officials hadn’t given enough notice to revoke his visa.
A judge ruled on Monday he should be released from detention.
But within hours, it was claimed he had been arrested.
However his family said today that he has returned to training on the court, with his brother declaring “justice has won and the rule of law has won”.
With just one week to go until the tournament kicks off, it’s still unclear as to whether Djokovic will be able to play and have the chance to steal the record for the greatest ever tennis player.
Here we take a look at the seven pressing questions surrounding his detainment row.
Novak’s dad Srdjan Djokovic claimed his son had been detained again – despite a judge ruling he should be freed.
He later told Serbian media: “I call on the Queen of Britain, Elizabeth, the leader of the Commonwealth, to intervene and protect the human rights of my son Novak Djokovic and to stop the political prosecution that has been carried out against him since he came to Australia.”
However, the situation is unclear as the sportman’s brother, Djordje, reportedly told Sportklub said the player is “with his lawyers” as ministers want to “capture and lock him up”.
Australian media sources are also claiming Government sources deny he has been re-arrested.
Regardless, the claims prompted outraged supporters to form huge crowds outside Djokovic’s lawyer’s office, where groups swarmed a car believed to be carrying the star.
In chaotic scenes, fans chanted Djokovic’s name and hurled items as cops used what is thought to be pepper spray in an attempt to control them.
Photos later showed that the tennis star was NOT actually in the car – which had blacked out windows.
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