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Djoković on Wednesday training in Melbourne
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JAMES ROSS / EPA
Tennis professional Novak Djoković has spoken out in detail for the first time since his entry problems to Australia. The 34-year-old only marginally addressed the initially denied entry to the host country of the Australian Open. In the post that he published on his Instagram account, he mainly commented on his corona test in December - and the most recent allegations that resulted from it, that he had shown himself to the public despite positive results, thereby violating the regulations in his home country Serbia , as well as other people at risk.
Djoković wrote that he had taken a rapid antigen test on December 16, which turned out negative. Out of sheer caution, he also did a PCR test on the same day. The next day he attended an event in Belgrade where he presented prizes to children. Before attending the event, he had taken a negative rapid antigen test. "I had no symptoms and felt fine, and I didn't get the news of the positive PCR test until after the event," he wrote.
On the following day, December 18, he had a long-agreed interview with the French sports newspaper "L'Equipe". He canceled all other appointments. But he did not want to disappoint the journalist. When he met with the newspaper, he always wore a mask - except for the photo shoot - and kept his distance from other people, wrote Djoković. "Although I went home after the interview and went into isolation for the prescribed length of time, after thinking more carefully, that was a misjudgment and I understand that I should have postponed this obligation."
The fact that his entry form incorrectly stated that he had not traveled in the 14 days before his flight to Australia was described by Djoković as a "human error" by his agent, "which was certainly not intentional."
His employees have provided the Australian authorities with further information in order to provide clarity in this regard.
It was important to him to clarify all of this, wrote Djoković.
But out of respect for the Australian government, he would not comment on the incidents.
Djoković 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.
Because the border officials had not given him the agreed time to clarify, the decision was overturned during a court hearing on Monday.
The Australian immigration minister has reserved the right to make use of his personal rights and still invalidate Djoković's visa.
That decision is still pending.
aar / dpa