A statement was posted on Djokovic’s social media accounts
early Wednesday while the men’s tennis No. 1 was at Rod Laver Arena holding a
practice session against Tristan Schoolkate, a 20-year-old Australian.
The nine-time and defending Australian Open champion is in
limbo before the year’s first tennis major starts next Monday. Djokovic won a
legal battle this week allowing him to stay in the country, but he still faces
the prospect of deportation because he’s not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Reports emerged that he had been attending events in his
native Serbia last month while infectious, and had made errors on an
immigration form to enter Australia that potentially could result in the
cancellation of his visa.
On the form, Djokovic said he had not traveled in the 14
days before his flight to Australia. The Monte Carlo-based athlete was seen in
Spain and Serbia in that two-week period.
In a statement on Instagram, Djokovic described the
speculation as “hurtful” and said he wanted to address “continuing
misinformation.” in the interest of ”alleviating broader concern in the
community about my presence in Australia.”
Djokovic said he had taken rapid tests that were negative in
the days before he returned a positive on a test he undertook out of an
“abundance of caution” because he was asymptomatic.
He addressed the travel declaration by saying it was
submitted on his behalf by his support team and “my agent sincerely apologizes
for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box.”
“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 exemption to rules
requiring vaccination to enter Australia since he recently recovered from
COVID-19.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s office said Djokovic’s
legal team had filed further submissions against the potential cancellation of
his visa.
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