Novak Djokovic languishing in Australian Detention Camp on Orthodox Christmas Day
Tennis star Novak Djokovic is spending Orthodox Christmas Day in an Australian Detention Camp for refugees.
Australia has said it is investigating the visas of other foreign tennis players, after detaining Novak Djokovic in a chaotic row over vaccine rules.
The men's world number one remains in immigration detention in Melbourne and is facing deportation after his entry to the country was denied on Wednesday.
He has launched an urgent court challenge to be heard on Monday, a week before the Australian Open begins.
Now more uncertainty surrounds the tournament schedule.
In an interview, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews (pictured above) said there was intelligence to "indicate there are some individuals here now that have not met the entry requirements and we have to investigate that."
However, she did not say how many other players were under investigation or who they were.
Djokovic, who chose not to take the Covid 'vaccine', had been granted a medical exemption to play in the tournament.
The exemption was given by two independent medical panels organised by Tennis Australia, the body that runs the event, and Victoria state, tournament organisers said.
But on Wednesday, Australian Border Force (ABF) officials said the 34-year-old Serbian player had "failed to provide appropriate evidence" at Melbourne Airport.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured above) is also being accused of politicising the issue after making the inflammatory statement that Novak would be "on the next plane home" if he can't provide proof of exemption and that the tennis star was trying to "run the border".
Morrison's remarks came whilst Novak Djokovic was en route to Australia after having been granted an exemption.
The row prompted Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (pictured below) to say Djokovic was a victim of "harassment" and that "the whole of Serbia" supported him.
It is not yet clear how long Djokovic will remain in an immigration detention hotel that has often been criticised by refugees for its poor conditions. Serbia has demanded Australia move him to a nicer hotel.
Djokovic's wife, Jelena (picture with novak below), thanked people "all around the world for using your voice to send love to my husband".
The player's father, Srdjan, said his son had been held in a room guarded by police at the airport, adding that it was "not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world".
Djokovic drew qualified backing from Australian player Nick Kyrgios, who tweeted his support for vaccinations but said "how we are handling Novak's situation is bad, really bad".
But others such as Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal showed no such support stating: "The only, for me, clear thing is if you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open."
The Australian Open begins on 17 January. Djokovic has previously won the tournament nine times.
The British Freedom Party wish our Orthodox brothers and sisters a Merry Christmas
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