Australian Home Affairs Minister: Novak Djokovic is not being held captive

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

Australian Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews indicated it was Novak Djokovic's responsibility to make sure he has all the necessary documentation that was needed to enter Australia. "It is the individual traveller's responsibility to make sure they have in place all the necessary documentation that is needed to enter Australia," Andrews said.

After landing in Australia on January 5, Djokovic was detained at the Melbourne Airport. Djokovic was separated from his team, his mobile phone was taken and was asked to explain why he should be let in unvaccinated. After nine hours, Djokovic was told his visa was cancelled.

During those nine hours, Djokovic's father, Srdjan, accused the Australian authorities of holding his son "captive." "I have no idea what is going on," Djokovic's father, Srdjan, told Serbian media. "They have been holding my son captive for five hours.

"If they don't let him go in half an hour, we will gather on the street. "This is a fight for everyone."

'No one is holding Djokovic captive'

Andrews said Djokovic is not being held "captive" and he is "free to leave." After his visa was cancelled, Djokovic appealed the decision and he is staying in Melbourne until the court make the decision in his case.

"Mr Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia, he is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that," Andrews said. Djokovic's father, Srdjan, unloaded on the Australian authorities after his son's visa was cancelled.

“The leader of that faraway land, Scott Morrison… Dared to attack Novak and expel him before he had reached their country. They had wanted to throw him to his knees, and not just him, but our beautiful Serbia,” Srdjan said.

"It's a shameful decision. Deportation. All of us need to go out and welcome him [when he comes back]. I can’t talk to my son; they present him as a criminal. I'm lost for words for all what they have done to him”.