Sharjah 24 – AFP: Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted "errors" in his travel papers and to meeting a journalist after a claimed coronavirus infection, as he battled to stay in Australia and fight for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
The men's world number one made the admission in an Instagram post as attention focused on his movements before he flew to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
Djokovic said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his visa, again, and throw him out of the country.
"We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur," the unvaccinated 34-year-old said in a statement released as he practised on the courts of the Open, which starts Monday.
The Serbian star flew into Australia a week ago claiming a vaccine exemption because of a positive PCR test result on December 16.
Border agents rejected his exemption saying a recent infection was an insufficient reason, tore up his visa and placed him in a detention centre.
But the vaccine-sceptic Djokovic's high-powered legal team dramatically overturned the visa decision in court on Monday on a procedural matter related to his airport interview.
Now, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says he is considering cancelling the visa another time, as fresh doubts emerge about Djokovic's travels in the two weeks before he arrived in Australia.
In an update to Australian media, Hawke's spokesman acknowledged receiving "lengthy further submissions" from the player's lawyers.
"Naturally, this will affect the timeframe for a decision," he said.
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