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Here is a summary of key dates in the still developing saga:
Dec 16: Djokovic tested positive for coronavirus, according to
his affidavit
https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/__data/
assets/pdf_file/0019/95050/Affidavit-of-Novak-Djokovic-sworn-on-10-January-2022.pdf
to the Australian federal court. His accompanying PCR result by
the Institute of Public Health of Serbia shows he was tested at
1:05 p.m. and the result time as 8:19 p.m.
Dec 17: The tennis star said he attended a charity event in
Belgrade and social media posts show him maskless handing out
awards to children. He said in a statement on Wednesday he did
not get his PCR result until after the event. He said a rapid
antigen test he took beforehand was negative.
Dec 18: Djokovic broke Serbia's isolation rules for a photoshoot
and interview with L'Equipe newspaper. He said in his statement
that he "felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Equipe
interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down."
Dec 22: He received a negative PCR result from the Institute of
Public Health of Serbia, according to court documents.
Dec 24-25: Djokovic was seen in Belgrade, according to two
eyewitness accounts
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/
sports/djokovic-travelled-across-europe-before-australia-trip-odds-with-declaration-2022-01-11
to Reuters. A video posted on social media on Christmas Day
showed him playing street tennis in Belgrade.
Dec 30: Tennis Australia informed the world number one that he
was granted a temporary medical exemption from the country's
vaccine requirements on the grounds of previous infection. In a
letter dated Dec 30, Australian Open organizers said this was
granted by a panel of medical experts and reviewed by the state
government of Victoria, where the tournament is held.
Jan 1: Djokovic told his agent to fill out his travel
declaration to enter Australia. The declaration stated that he
had not traveled in the 14 days prior to his expected departure
from Spain on Jan 4. The Department of Home Affairs advised the
agent that Djokovic met the requirements for quarantine-free
arrival in Australia. The player later admitted the immigration
form had contained an error in not saying he had traveled
between Serbia and Spain in the 14 days before he departed.
Jan 2: Djokovic was issued with a border travel permit by the
Victorian government. He was seen greeting a fan on video in
Marbella, Spain.
Jan 4: "I'm heading Down Under with an exemption," Djokovic
announced to the world in an Instagram post shortly before
flying from Spain via Dubai to Melbourne. The impending arrival
of the vaccine sceptic prompted a huge backlash in Australia,
which has undergone some of the world's toughest COVID-19
lockdowns and where hospitalisation rates have hit a record
high.
Jan 5: Djokovic touched down at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport
at 11:30 p.m.
Jan 6: Australia's Border Force detained the tennis star in a
room at the airport overnight, denying him permission to enter
the country and notifying him of their intention to remove him.
The Serbian president objected to Canberra.
Jan 7: Djokovic faced 72 hours over the Orthodox Christmas holed
up in a hotel for asylum seekers after a court agreed to hear
his appeal against his canceled visa.
Jan 10: In a virtual court hearing that saw pranksters hijack
the live stream and protesters pepper sprayed outside his
lawyers office, Djokovic was freed from detention. A judge
quashed the government's decision to cancel his visa on the
grounds it was unreasonable. Australian immigration minister
Alexander Hawke said he would weigh the use of personal powers
to deport him anyway. Just after midnight, Djokovic tweeted a
photo of himself practicing at Rod Laver arena.
Jan 11: Social media posts and eyewitness accounts to Reuters
contradicted Djokovic's immigration form declaration that he did
not travel for 14 days before entering the country.
Jan 12: Djokovic posted a statement on Instagram apologising for
the mistake on the form and for leaving quarantine to do a
photoshoot with L'Equipe.
Jan 13: Djokovic was included in the Australian Open draw as top
seed.
Jan 14: Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used discretionary
powers to cancel Djokovic's visa for a second time, saying he
may pose a health risk.
(Compiled by Global News Desk)
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