Novak Djokovic Breaks Silence Over Australia Visa Row, Thanks Fans On Social Media

Djokovic's visa being cancelled on his arrival in Melbourne to play in the season-opening Grand Slam caused has sparked a controversy.

Novak Djokovic. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Days after the Australian government rejected World No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic's visa to enter the country for the much-awaited Australian Open tournament, the 20-time grand slam winner took to social media and thanked his supporters around the world for their support.

“Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated," Djokovic, who is currently in a detention facility in Melbourne awaiting an appeal, wrote on Instagram on Friday.

Djokovic's visa being cancelled on his arrival in Melbourne to play in the season-opening Grand Slam caused has sparked controversy after his supporters across the world stood up for their favourite player.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this week said that the tennis superstar will be sent back home if he can't provide 'sufficient' evidence to support his vaccination exemption from Covid-19 vaccination.

"Mr Djokovic's visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant," Morrison tweeted on Thursday.

Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 5, 2022

Djokovic had landed in the Victorian capital on Thursday to defend his Australian Open crown, with the tournament due to start on January 17.

The tennis star is currently staying in a quarantined hotel in Melbourne as his lawyers sought an urgent injunction to allow him to stay in the country. His legal team also managed to secure an interim injunction preventing authorities from deporting the tennis star until at least Monday.

Djokovic's visa was cancelled in Australia after being held for several hours in the airport, during which he was placed in isolation in a police-guarded room.

Djokovic is the most successful player in the history of the Australian Open with nine title wins. He is also in a three-way tie on 20 career Grand Slams titles with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

(With inputs from IANS)