Djokovic ‘free to leave’ Australia

Novak Djokovic is free to leave Australia at any time Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews told a press conference in Melbourne on Friday.

Djokovic is being held at an immigration hotel in Melbourne until a Federal court can adjudicate on his appeal against deportation.

The world No. 1 was denied entry to Australia on Wednesday night after arriving from Dubai with the wrong visa for a medical exemption he had been given.

“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,” she said.

Ms Andrews said Djokovic did have a visa issued to him, but that Border Force had determined he did not meet entry requirements because he was not fully vaccinated.

“It is the individual traveller’s responsibility to make sure they have in place all the necessary documentation that is needed to enter Australia,” she said.

His legal challenge against deportation was yesterday adjourned until Monday at 10am.

Overnight, police arrested two women who spray-painted the wall of the Park Hotel in Melbourne where Djokovic is staying, and climbed onto an awning attached to the hotel.