SYDNEY, Jan.8 (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic contracted COVID-19 last month and had received written permission to enter Australia from the Home Office before traveling to the country on the basis of an exemption medical immunization rules, lawyers for the tennis player said, in a court file.
The Serbian player, world number one tennis player, currently in medical detention since his arrival in Melbourne following the cancellation of his visa, tested positive for the coronavirus for the first time on December 16, 2021, but did not “present neither fever nor respiratory symptoms related to COVID-19 in the last 72 hours “, 14 days after this diagnosis, indicates this file.
According to documents filed by his lawyers, Novak Djokovic received on January 1 “a document from the Home Office indicating that he met the conditions for entry without quarantine into Australia”.
The Serbian has taken legal action to contest the reversal of the Australian authorities and still hopes to be able to participate in the Australian Open, a tournament of which he is the title holder and which is due to start on January 17. (Report Byron Kaye; French version Claude Chendjou)