Questions have been raised about the authenticity of Novak Djokovic's positive Covid test on December 16, as multiple pictures taken around that date show the maskless tennis star mixing as normal in his native Serbia.
A maskless Djokovic was pictured as a panelist at an indoor discussion for his charity foundation, and he shared pictures on Instagram of him receiving a stamp made in his honour the day after he allegedly tested positive for Covid.
In further damning pictures allegedly taken on December 17, the World No. 1 took part in an open PR event and was pictured hugging children at an award ceremony, again at the Novak Tennis Centre in Dorćol, Serbia.
The Serbian's lawyers have since claimed the Australian government gave the tennis star a written vaccine exemption because he contracted the disease on December 16 - the same day he was pictured mixing with dozens of maskless people.
In a further blow to the tennis star's claims, it was also alleged that his positive PCR test result on December 16 would have been to late to register with Tennis Australia's own exemption process deadline - which had already expired on December 10.
According to the governing body's own documents, the last date to apply for medical exemption for the Australian Open had been nearly a week earlier.
Earlier today, Czech tennis star Renata Voráčová, 38, who was held in detention alongside Djokovic, had her visa ripped up by Border Force and was deported from Australia on a flight to Dubai after not appealing the decision to detain her.
Saturday marked the latest twist in Djokovic's Covid saga, after the World No. 1 was held at an immigration facility in Melbourne after his visa was cancelled on Wednesday following scrutiny of the medical exemption he had secured to travel to the first tennis major of the year.
But his legal team now claim that he was in fact granted a vaccine exemption from the Australian government and Tennis Australia to enter the country because he contracted Covid-19 last month.
On December 16, a maskless Novak Djokovic shared a picture of himself speaking at a panel for the Novak Djokovic Foundation at the Novak Tennis Centre in Dorćol, Serbia. HIs lawyers now claim he received his positive PCR result that same day
On December 17, Djokovic (pictured centre at the back) posed with dozens of children at his Novak Tennis Centre in Dorćol, Serbia, the day after the purported positive PCR test
December 17: The maskless tennis World No. 1 posed for pictures with the children in Serbia at the public PR event
And on December 16, the World No. 1 later shared a picture of himself receiving an honourary stamp in Serbia on Instagram
38-year-old Renata Voracova, a Czech tennis player, was filmed at the window of a Melbourne immigration detention hotel after also having her visa rejected by Australian border guards. She has since been deported from Australia
Novak Djokovic requested a personal chef and access to a tennis court while staying in a Melbourne hotel before his demands were rejected by Australian Border Force
The World No. 1 has been told he will receive no special treatment as he remains in immigration custody at the $109-a-night Park Hotel in Carlton
It comes after Djokovic's demands for a personal chef in the $109-a-night Park Hotel in Carlton were rejected as he was told he would receive no special treatment as he awaits his court date on Monday.
In court documents published on Saturday, Djokovic's lawyers claimed the Serbian recorded a positive test on December 16, and has 'not had a fever or respiratory symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 72 hours'.
The filing said he had written clearance from Australia's immigration department before travelling to the country with a medical exemption from its vaccination rules.
On January 1, the sports star received a 'a document from the Department of Home Affairs (which) told Djokovic that his 'responses indicate(d) that (he met) the requirements for a quarantine-free arrival into Australia', the documents added.
As well as written clearance from the Australian government, his lawyers claimed that Tennis Australia granted him a 'medical exemption from Covid vaccination' on December 30, on the basis he had recently recovered from the virus.
Anti-vaxx Djokovic has refused to reveal how many, if any, Covid vaccinations he has received.
Despite claims that he was given written clearance to enter Australia, 20-time grand slam winner's visa was cancelled after at least six hours of heated discussions with Border Force.
He is waiting in detention to fight the decision in court on Monday, after he was deemed not to have met outlined Australian government visa requirements to enter the country after flying in from Dubai.
Leaked documents from Tennis Australia said unvaccinated players were able to apply for a temporary medical exemption if they had contracted Covid-19 in the past six months.
A letter was sent by Tennis Australia on December 7 to the Association of Tennis Professionals and then passed onto players, the Herald Sun reported.
The document said unvaccinated players needed to prove they'd had the virus in the time since July 31 in order to enter the country.
But Tennis Australia had been notified by the Federal Government in November that prior infections would not allow the unvaccinated into the country.
Djokovic has been forced to tough it out alongside 32 other refugees and asylum seekers who have previously complained about poor living conditions at the hotel that has been dubbed the 'Alternative Place of Detention'
Djokovic has been forced to tough it out in the Park Hotel alongside 32 other refugees and asylum seekers, who have previously complained about poor living conditions at the hotel that has been dubbed the 'Alternative Place of Detention'.
Maggot-riddled food, mouldy bread, fires, Covid outbreaks and bugs in rooms are among the complaints made by some of the guests.
Djokovic's demands for a personal chef while in detention have been rejected, as he was told he will receive no special treatment while he remains in immigration custody.
Since being detained in Melbourne late on Wednesday night, Djokovic requested a personal chef so he could maintain his very strict diet as the tennis pro lives with an intolerance to gluten.
He had also asked to be transferred to a rented apartment with a tennis court so he could train and remain in top shape ahead of the Australian Open with the tournament set to begin in a little over a week on January 17.
Djokovic, 34, even offered to pay for private guards in the hopes he could make the move.
But Australian Border Force rejected all of his requests and insisted he will remain at the hotel until a court rules on his deportation on Monday.
His detainment at the hotel has sparked rallies in Melbourne and Belgrade with the Serbian government claiming the conditions are not 'befitting' to the best sportsman while Djokovic's family have accused the Australian government of treating their son like a 'prisoner'.
The site been used as a government detention hotel since December 2020, with staff and guests previously slamming it as an 'incubator' for Covid.
Photos shared by horrified detainees in the hotel allegedly showed maggots and mould in the food provided
Photos shared by an asylum seeker showing the food that is being served to guests at the Park Hotel
Novak Djokovic (left and right with wife Jelena) has broken his silence from inside immigration detention in Australia after being denied entry
The tennis star will have to remain in his room where the windows are sealed shut and air is circulated by air conditioners.
In October, nearly half of those being held in the hotel tested positive for the Delta strain, with one man taken to hospital by ambulance.
Refugees are made to share a common kitchen area and lift if travelling between floors.
People who test positive are moved to the first floor but this can happen days after the tests are taken.
On Friday, it emerged that two other people connected to the tournament have joined Djokovic in being instructed to leave the country by the Australian Border Force.
One of the individuals is Czech doubles specialist Renata Voracova, who played in a warm-up tournament in Melbourne this week but has now opted to leave Australia.
Djokovic has spoken out from inside Australian border detention to thank his family and fans for their support as he waits to hear whether he will be deported.
The Serbian tennis ace, who has been held since Wednesday after he was barred from entering the country to compete in the Australian Open, also posted a Christmas message because today is Christmas Day in the Orthodox tradition.
'Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated,' he wrote in English underneath a post in Serbian, in which he also thanked his family and countrymen.
A second post against a background which featured an image of the birth of Christ said: 'God's peace. Christ is born. Happy Christmas. May God's love invigorate and fulfill you all.'
The athlete's post came after wife Jelena penned her own Instagram post lending support to her husband while calling for 'love and forgiveness'.
The 35-year-old mother-of-two, who met Djokovic as a teenager and has been censured for spreading Covid disinformation in the past, wrote on Instagram that she is 'taking a deep breath to calm down and find gratitude (and understanding) in this moment for all that is happening.'
Jelena asked for 'love and respect' in message posted alongside a photo of the couple to the social media on Friday (pictured)
The 35-year-old mother-of-two said she is 'taking a deep breath to calm down and find gratitude and understanding' in a message posted on Instagram (above)
In one message, written in Serbian and English (left), he thanked his family and fans for standing by him. In a second (right) he wished Orthodox Christians a happy Christmas, which they are marking today
'Thank you dear people, all around the world for using your voice to send love to my husband,' she added. 'The only law that we should all respect across every single border is Love and respect for another human being.'
She also wished her husband a 'happy Christmas' because Orthodox Christians mark Jesus's birthday on January 7. An Orthodox priest said it was 'appalling' that Djokovic is spending the day in a hotel likened to a 'torture chamber'.
Her message was posted amid protests in Serbia led by Djokovic's parents, who have slammed his treatment by Australian border officials - claiming he is being held 'prisoner' in 'terrible' conditions.
But Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has hit back, saying Djokovic can leave any time he wants and is staying of his own will while lawyers contest the border ruling. His case is due in court Monday.
'Mr Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia, he is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that,' she said.
She spoke as the blame game among Australian officials over the saga continued, with Victoria's state premier today pointing the finger at tennis bosses.
Jacinta Allan, acting Victorian premier, has been under pressure because it was her state which granted Djokovic a medical exemption - believed to be on the grounds that he was previously infected with Covid because he is not currently vaccinated.
But Allan clarified on Friday, saying the exemption only qualified Djokovic to play in the tournament and not to cross the Australian border.
Instead she pointed the finger of blame at Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia boss, after it emerged the Department of Health sent him two letters back in November saying that prior Covid infection would not be sufficient to cross the border.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley informed the nation's advisory body on immunisation in November last year the viability of the tournament hinged on 'allowing' overseas players to compete in Melbourne who were not double-vaccinated
Allan said Tiley failed to inform her government that the exemption which qualified Djokovic to play in the tournament would not get him into the country.
According to her account, it was this failed communication which led Djokovic to board a flight to Australia believing he had been granted an exemption to enter the country - when in fact he had not.
Ms Allan said: 'It is the Commonwealth government … that's responsible for issuing visas and how they engage in that dialogue with bodies like Tennis Australia is a matter for them.'
Exemptions to play in the Australian Open are 'very much separate from the visa process,' Allan added.
But Tiley has broken his silence over the Novak Djokovic visa debacle, claiming his staff have done an 'unbelievable job' despite the governing body coming under fire for
