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Novak Djoković
Photo: DAVID GRAY / AFP
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Serbian counterpart Ana Brnabić talked on the phone over Novak Djoković's entry.
Citing the Serbian state broadcaster RTS, it was said that Brnabić had asked the Australian side to treat Djoković with dignity.
The Prime Minister emphasized in particular the importance of the training conditions for the Serbian tennis player, who had not been able to prepare for the upcoming tournament in the past few days.
The Australian version: It was a "constructive" conversation.
The Australian news agency AAP reported, citing the office of the head of government.
Morrison explained Australia's "non-discriminatory" border policy and its role in protecting the country during the corona pandemic.
The two agreed to stay in touch and strengthen bilateral relations.
The Australian Open will be held from January 17th to 30th.
Djoković has won the tournament nine times - more often than anyone else.
The tennis professional was refused entry into the country last week because he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus and the documentation of his medical exemption was insufficient for the authorities.
That is why he was staying in a deportation hotel in Melbourne at the weekend.
According to a court, however, the border guards did not allow Djoković the agreed time to clarify.
Therefore, the decision was overturned during a hearing on Monday.
Apparently incorrect information on entry forms
Even one day after the court ruling in his favor, Djoković still has no certainty about his participation in the Australian Open. Before a decision by the government around the responsible immigration minister Alex Hawke, who can still revoke the 34-year-old Serb's visa, details from an immigration form could also cause additional difficulties. As the Australian media reported on Tuesday, a statement in the document does not correspond to the truth - Djoković had been traveling in the 14 days before the flight to Australia, contrary to the information.
Photos and videos published in social networks show that the athlete, who lives in Monaco, was training both in his home country of Serbia and in Spain during the period in question before he traveled down under.
To what extent this has an impact on the decision of Immigration Minister Hawke or is relevant in this context was initially unclear.
Incorrect information on the form is called a serious offense.
as / dpa