Tennis: from his detention center in Australia, Djokovic thanks his support “around the world”

Novak Djokovic knows he can still count on his fans. Placed in detention in Australia after the cancellation of his visa due to the vagueness surrounding his vaccination situation, the world number 1 tennis player thanked his support “worldwide” this Friday.

“Thank you to my family, loved ones, Serbia and all the good people around the world who send me their support. Thank God for the health”, he wrote in a Serbian message posted on Instagram. This support, “I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated”, he also writes in English.

This Friday, Orthodox Christmas Day, about fifty people gathered in front of an establishment used by the Australian government to hold illegal people and where the Serbian player would be to support him. “We come to support him because it is our Christmas and he is going through a difficult period”“Djoker” supporter Sash Aleksic told AFP. “There would obviously be a lot more people if people didn’t have family obligations today”, he assures.

Thursday in Belgrade, the player’s family had already organized a demonstration in support of his protégé. Without containing his fury, the tennis player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, addressed the crowd gathered in Belgrade to denounce a “political witch hunt” and one “corona-fascism”. “Jesus was crucified and subjected to many things, but he held and is still alive among us”, said the player’s father. “Novak is also crucified in the same way, he the best sportsman and man in the world.”

Serbian President himself, Aleksandar Vucic, on Thursday denounced a “political hunt” targeting Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic had landed in Melbourne on Wednesday in hopes of defending his Australian Open title (January 17-30) and winning a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, after officially receiving a waiver. But according to the Australian government, the papers of the 34-year-old player, who had opposed compulsory vaccination and whose vaccination status is unknown, did not meet the required conditions.

He was therefore placed in detention pending deportation after the cancellation of his visa to enter Australia, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. He is not expected to leave Australian territory before Monday, the date of a new hearing before a judge in Melbourne.

Most foreigners are not allowed to travel to Australia, and those who can must be fully immunized. Only Australian nationals can benefit from a medical exemption – like the one used by the world No.1 when he left for Melbourne.