While the nine-time Open champion had a Covid-19 vaccination exemption from the Victorian government allowing him to compete, he did not have the right visa to enter Australia.

The Serbian player was detained at a Melbourne airport for several hours following his arrival around 11.20pm on Wednesday after the Australian Border Force raised concerns about his visa.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended the government’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa, declaring the tennis star was not above the rules.

“Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules,” Mr Morrison posted on Twitter.

“Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.”

At a press conference later, he denied the Serb had been targeted.

“When people make public statements about what they have … they draw significant attention to themselves … and whoever does that, they can expect to be asked more questions than others,” Morrison said.

“That’s how border force works, he was not singled out at all.”

Federal cabinet minister Greg Hunt said the visa was cancelled following a review of the vaccination exemption provided by the state government and “the integrity and evidence behind it”.

Djokovic has been transported from Tullamarine airpor, to a quarantine hotel in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Carlton.

He will remain there until his flight out of Australia is arranged, which could come as early as Thursday night, pending legal action.

Djokovic’s first likely legal step is at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

“It is a matter for him whether he wishes to appeal, but if a visa is cancelled, somebody will have to leave the country,” Mr Hunt told the Seven Network.

The ABF said Djokovic failed to meet the entry requirements.

“The ABF can confirm that Mr Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled,” the agency said in a statement.

The ABF also rejected claims from Djokovic’s camp that he was denied access to his phone while he was being held at the Melbourne Jet Base at Tullamarine.

The visa cancellation comes after the federal government challenged a statement by Victoria’s Sports Minister Jaala Pulford that the ABF had asked the state to support Djokovic’s visa application.

Federal Sport Minister Richard Colbeck said the federal government did not make that request.
“We didn’t ask info from the Victorian government to support a visa, it’s not their role,” he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

“Border Force, as I understand, asked for his information in relation to the exemption, so I think it’s a bit of a red herring thrown up by Victoria.”
However, a Victorian government spokesman rejected this saying the matter related to an individual visa and a change of visa status.
“He’s filled in the wrong paperwork. They asked us, our departments, would we support an individual visa – so change his visa status,” the spokesman said.
“We said no. The rest is a matter for the commonwealth.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he had spoken to Djokovic and accused Australia of harassing him.

“I told our Novak that the whole of Serbia is with him and that our bodies are doing everything to see that the harassment of the world’s best tennis player is brought to an end immediately,” he said in a statement cited by Reuters.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews had warned ahead of Djokovic’s arrival that while the Victorian government and Tennis Australia may allow a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it was the federal government that dealt with border entry requirements.

Since December 15, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can arrive in Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption and can travel to eligible states and territories without having to quarantine.

But if a person is not vaccinated, they must provide proof they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or be turned away.

Djokovic has not officially disclosed his vaccination status but it is widely believed he is unvaccinated.

Djokovic was looking to win his 10th Australian Open title, when the grand slam tournament gets underway on January 17.