Euro News
The men’s tennis world No1 says his agent unintentionally provided incorrect travel information as he awaits an Australian government decision over his visa.
Novak Djokovic has admitted an “error of judgement” in failing to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 last month, and says his agent unintentionally provided incorrect information on his Australian visa application form.
The men’s tennis world number one is awaiting a government decision on whether to revoke his visa, depriving him of a bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title in next week’s Australian Open.
Djokovic took to social media to clarify what he called “ongoing misinformation” about his movements while he was infectious last month and about errors on the travel document he used to enter Australia.
There’s been speculation that errors on his immigration form could potentially result in the cancellation of his visa. On Wednesday he described the speculation as “hurtful” and said he wanted to address it in the interest of “alleviating broader concern in the community about my presence in Australia”.
The player’s visa was revoked and then reinstated after he won a legal case allowing him to stay in the country, in a COVID-19 vaccination saga that has overshadowed the days leading up to the tournament.
Djokovic still faces the prospect of deportation because he’s not vaccinated against COVID-19, a decision entirely at the discretion of Australia’s immigration minister if deemed to be in the public interest.
‘Error of judgement’ in failing to isolate
The tennis star says he knew he had tested positive for COVID-19 when he attended a newspaper interview and photo shoot at his tennis centre in Serbia last month, saying on Wednesday he made an “error of judgement” and should have immediately gone into isolation.
Reports emerged that Djokovic attended events in his native Serbia last month after testing positive on December 16, including presenting awards to children the following day.
Djokovic said he’d taken rapid tests that were negative and he was asymptomatic in the days before he received his positive result from an approved PRC test he undertook out of an “abundance of caution” after attending a basketball game on December 14 “where it was reported that a number of people tested positive”.
He received the result late December 17 and said he scrapped all his commitments except the long-standing interview with the French sports paper L’Equipe.
“I felt obligated to go ahead … but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken,” Djokovic said in the statement. “While I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled the commitment.”
Travel form apology
Novak Djokovic’s comments were posted in a statement on his social media accounts while he trained in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, holding a practice session against Tristan Schoolkate, a 20-year-old Australian.
He addressed the travel declaration by saying it was submitted on his behalf by his support team and that “my agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box.”
On the form, Djokovic said he had not travelled in the 14 days before his flight to Australia. However, the Monte Carlo-based athlete was seen in Spain and Serbia in that two-week period.
“This was a human error and certainly not deliberate,” he wrote. “The team has provided additional information to the Australian Government to clarify this matter.”
At issue is whether he has a valid…
