ELBOURNE, Jan 6, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Australia said Thursday it had
cancelled the entry visa of Novak Djokovic, opening the way to his detention
and deportation in a dramatic reversal for the tennis world number one.

   The Serb had landed in Melbourne the previous evening, after celebrating
on social media that he had a medical exemption to play in the tournament
without proof he was fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

   The vaccine exemption, granted by the Australian Open organisers after his
application had been cleared by two medical panels, sparked fury among
Australians who have endured Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions for two
years.

   But the nine-time Australian Open champion never got past border control.

   "Mr Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry
requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled," the
Australian Border Force said in a statement.

   "Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their
visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia," it added.

   The player was held at the airport overnight, but was moved, along with
his team, early on Thursday.

   It is unclear if he will depart Australia later in the day or stay in
hotel quarantine or government accommodation during a possible legal fight
against deportation.

   Several local media including The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald said
Djokovic's lawyers would attempt to overturn the decision.

   Serbia's president blasted Australia for the "maltreatment" of its star.

   - 'Justice and truth' -

   President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram he spoke with Djokovic over
the phone and told him that "the whole of Serbia is with him and that our
authorities are undertaking all measures in order that maltreatment of the
world's best tennis player ends as soon as possible".

   "In line with all standards of international public law, Serbia will fight
for Novak Djokovic, justice and truth."

   Djokovic's father called for his son to receive a hero's welcome on his
return.

   "Our pride, our Novak is returning ... We should all welcome him as
deserved!" Srdjan Djokovic said on Instagram.

   He said his son had been "held captive for five hours" at Melbourne
airport.

   "This is a fight for a libertarian world, this is not just a fight for
Novak, but a fight for the whole world," he told Sputnik's Serbia media
outlet.

   But Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country's strict
border policies had been critical to keeping death rates low.

   "Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders," he said.

   "No one is above these rules."

   Morrison had warned the previous day that if Djokovic did not have the
evidence for his exemption he "will be on the next plane home".

   Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the government made "no
apologies" for protecting the border.

   "Individuals who do not meet our strict requirements will be denied entry
to Australia, it does not matter who they are," she said in a statement.

   The Australian government's decision followed a wave of anger over the
granting of Djokovic's exemption.

   - 'No special favour' -

   Stephen Parnis, a former Australian Medical Association vice-president,
said the exemption sent an "appalling message" to people trying to stop the
spread of Covid-19.

   All participants at the first Grand Slam of 2022, which starts on January
17, must be vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a medical exemption, which is
granted only after assessment by two panels of independent experts.

   Tournament chief Craig Tiley said the defending champion had been given
"no special favour" but had urged him to reveal why he got the exemption to
soothe public anger.

   Among the conditions allowing entry without a vaccine is if a person has
had Covid-19 in the past six months. It has not been revealed if that was the
case with Djokovic. Tiley said just 26 of the approximately 3,000 players and
support staff travelling to Australia for the tournament had applied for a
vaccine exemption. Only a handful of those had been successful.

   He defended the integrity of the exemption application process.

   "Any person who met those conditions has been allowed to come in. There's
been no special favour. There's been no special opportunity granted to
Novak," Tiley said.

   Djokovic voiced his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine in April 2020 when
it was suggested they might be obligatory so tournament play could resume.

   "Personally I am not pro-vaccines," said Djokovic at the time. "I would
not like it for someone to compel me to be vaccinated so I can travel."

   During Djokovic's questioning at the airport, his coach Goran Ivanisevic
posted a photograph on Instagram of himself and the Serb's other backroom
staff, patiently waiting at Melbourne airport for a resolution.

   "Not the most usual trip Down Under," wrote the former Wimbledon champion.