Novak Djokovic has got a message out from inside the hotel where he is being held, posting on Instagram as his grand slam hopes remain in limbo.
Novak Djokovic has thanked fans for their support as he awaits the result of his appeal after being blocked from entering Australia in a row over Covid rules.
In a message on Instagram, the tennis world number one wrote: “Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated.”
And in a message written in Serbian, he said: “Thank you to my family, Serbia and all good people across the world who are sending me support. Thanks to dear God for health.”
It comes after his wife Jelena also thanked his fans for “using your voice to send love to my husband” while he remains in a quarantine hotel.
“Thank you dear people, all around the world for using your voice to send love to my husband,” Jelena Djokovic wrote on Instagram and Twitter.
In messages marking Christmas in Serbia, she wrote: “I am taking a deep breath to calm down and find gratitude (and understanding) in this moment for all that is happening.
“The only law that we should all respect across every single border is Love and respect for another human being.
“Love and forgiveness is never a mistake but a powerful force. Wishing you all well!”
It comes after the Herlad Sun reveals a leaked document from Tennis Australia which reportedly showed that the organisation wrongly informed unvaccinated players they could enter the country for the Australian Open if they had caught Covid within the last six months.
The letter says that unvaccinated players needed to prove they’d had the virus within the past six months in order to enter and get an overseas medical exemption certificate and a second exemption either signed off by an Australian medical practitioner or a panel of expert medical personnel.
That is despite the Federal Government informing Tennis Australia in November that prior infections were not covered in its guidelines for medical exemptions.
Meanwhile, Czech doubles star Renata Voracova has reportedly suffered a similar fate as Djokovic after her visa was cancelled and she was detained in the same hotel as the Serbian World No. 1.
Voracova, the 38-year-old world No. 80 doubles player, had already played an Australian Open warm up event in Melbourne.
Reports emerged on Friday night that she had seen her visa cancelled was being detained by Border Force officials at the Park Hotel in Carlton.Voracova had used the same reason as Djokovic, which was believed to be a “natural immunity” having contracted Covid in the past six months.
It remains unclear whether she will leave the country immediately or protest the decision in court.
Originally published as Novak Djokovic breaks silence with Instagram post from Melbourne hotel
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.