By Stewart Perrie
Novak Djokovic is officially on his way back to Serbia after having his visa cancelled, despite receiving an exemption to travel Down Under to compete in the Australian Open.
Prior to the world No.1 tennis player's arrival, his father was making all sorts of ominous threats to authorities - and those demands have now, rather ironically, come back to bite him in the bum.
Srdan Djokovic lashed out at Australian officials for detaining and questioning his son at the border and claimed Novak was being held alone in a room without his phone or his entourage.
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"I have no idea what's going on, they're holding my son captive for five hours," Srdan told local Serbian radio station B92.
"This is a fight for the libertarian world, this is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world!
"If they don't let him go in half an hour, we will gather on the street, this is a fight for everyone."
The world number one tennis player was held up at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport overnight after touching down in the country just before midnight.
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He was questioned by officials about his medical exemption to play in the Grand Slam and asked to supply supporting evidence to prove why he doesn't need to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
The Age reported there was also an issue in the visa application he submitted because it technically didn'y allow for medical exemptions in regards to the vaccine.
Now the Victorian state government has confirmed it has rejected Novak's application to come into the country.
Acting Sports and Major Events Minister Jaala Pulford said the tennis player no longer had the support of the state government.
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"The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic's visa application to enter Australia," she said.
"We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
"We've always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions a matter for doctors."
The Australian government has warned Novak will be put on the first plane out of Australia if he can't prove why he should have been granted a medical exemption.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: "We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that.
"If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else and he'll be on the next plane home.
"There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever."
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