Djokovic explains movements after positive Covid-19 test

World tennis No 1 Novak Djokovic also says a mistake on his immigration form about travelling abroad before arriving in Australia was “human error” and “not deliberate”.

In a six-panel post on his Instagram page, Djokovic said he also wanted to “address the continuing misinformation” about his attendance at events in December after he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Questions had been swirling after Djokovic was pictured at events in the days after 16 December when he took a Covid-19 PCR test.

He said he took the rapid antigen test, which returned a negative result, after attending a basketball game in Belgrade two days before at which a number of people tested positive.

He also took a PCR test on the same day (16 December).

The following day he attended the tennis event where he presented trophies to children after taking another rapid antigen test which was also negative.

He received the result of his PCR test, which was positive, after that event.

He said on 18 December that he had “long-standing commitment” to complete an interview with l’Equipe as he felt “obliged” to attend and he wore a mask the whole time except when the photo was taken.

He admits this was “an error of judgement”.

Djokovic added that he had tried to ensure the safety of everyone since his positive test for Covid-19.

As for his travel declaration, he said this was completed by his support team and that his agent “sincerely apologises for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box”, adding that it was a “human error”.

“We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur.”

Djokovic had declared he had not travelled anywhere , however, posts on social media revealed the player had travelled to Spain.

He said his team has provided additional information to the Australian government on the matter.

The Serbian’s fate still hangs in the balance as Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has to deliberate on whether to exercise his discretion and cancel Djokovic’s visa.

If the visa is cancelled, it could see the world’s number one men’s tennis player locked out of Australia for three years.

Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabić has offered her government’s assurances Djokovic will respect Australia’s regulations if he is allowed to compete.

It comes after it was alleged Djokovic attended a Belgrade Tennis Association event while not wearing a mask on 17 December – the day after he tested positive to Covid-19 for a second time.

Brnabić conceded this would have “clearly violated the rules” if the tennis champ had already received his positive result – which the player has denied in his statement this afternoon.

Former men’s world number one Andy Murray weighed in on the saga overnight, calling for Djokovic to explain his whereabouts in the days after his positive test, adding the drama had proved a distraction for other players.

There is no definitive deadline for Hawke to make a decision on Djokovic’s visa – and according to a government spokesperson, he is in no rush.

The Australian government has already cancelled the visa once, however, that decision was overturned by a judge in Melbourne on Monday. He said due process had not been followed by Australia’s Border Force officials when they decided to cancel the visa and threatened to deport Djokovic.

Djokovic is the Australian Open defending champion and if he wins the title for a 10th time he will move to 21 Grand Slams – the highest number of any male player in the Open era.

-ABC