It is already a document for history. The transcript of the interrogation of Novak Djokovic upon his arrival at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne on January 6 has in fact been made public with the agreement of the parties. A nocturnal and often Kafkaesque closed-door between 12:21 am, the start of the discussions, and 7:45 am, with the departure of the world No. 1, without a visa, for the now famous Park Hotel.
From the first minutes of the interview between the Serb and the border police officer in charge of checking his documents, we finally have confirmation of what Djokovic has never said openly. After the usual questions on the practice of English, civil status or the reasons for his trip to Australia, Djokovic is questioned about his vaccine condition.
“Are you vaccinated…? », Begins the agent. “I am not vaccinated,” cuts the nine-time winner of the Australian Open. “… Against Covid-19? Not vaccinated? », Continues the agent. “I am not vaccinated, repeats the player. (…) I contracted the Covid twice, I had the Covid in June 2020 and I had it recently – I tested positive with a PCR test on December 16, 2021. I have the documents which can attest to this. And which therefore proves that the Serb knew about his positive test on the 16th, before attending two public events in Belgrade the next day during which he was not wearing a mask.
Djokovic also adds that he provided a blood test of his antibodies and a PCR test, negative this one, on December 22.
The Serb then spends long minutes explaining the medical exemption he enjoys and its validation by two panels of medical experts, which he (wrongly) thinks to have been mandated both by the government of the state of Victoria and the federal government. Despite the late hour, the complexity of the situation and the agent’s insistence on obtaining clarifications that seem to exceed the world No. 1, the discussion remains courteous.
“I really do not see what you want me to tell you more, loose the Belgradois. I arrived here thanks to these documents otherwise I would not have been allowed to come. I really don’t understand the reason why you won’t let me enter your country. I’ve been waiting for four hours and still can’t figure out the main reason – like – lack of papers? Lack of information ? Where ? “
After more than three hours of interruption (00:52 to 03:55), the agent returns to explain to the man at the 20 Grand Slams that he is going to read him an act on the cancellation of his visa and that after reading the document , he will have 20 minutes to prepare his defense arguments.
“You put me in a very awkward position”
“So, are you legally giving me 20 minutes to try and provide you with additional information that I don’t have?” At four o’clock in the morning ?, Djokovic is surprised. You put me in a very awkward position, where at four in the morning I can’t call the director of Tennis Australia, I can’t relate to the government of the state of Victoria through Tennis Australia. You’re just putting me in a very awkward position. I don’t know what else I can tell you. “
A long dialogue of the deaf follows. “If you could wait until eight o’clock,” continues Djokovic. I can call Tennis Australia and we can try to resolve this. But now ? They are all sleeping (…) I did everything I could. Right now, I can call my agent. You told me not to use my phone, so I’m not communicating with anyone, no one knows what’s going on… ”
The complete reading of the act and the Serb’s refusal to initial it lasts more than thirty minutes. Djokovic repeats several times that he would never have come if he had thought of finding himself in this unfortunate position. At 4:33 am, he finally gets the opportunity to make a phone call to his agent, since it was she who was responsible for filling out the documents relating to his trip.
At 7.45 am: “I am placing you in detention”
At 5.20 am, resumption of the debates. Of short time. The policeman indeed indicates to the world n ° 1… that he has finished his guard and that another team will take over! Djokovic renews his wish to wait 8 hours or 8:30 am but the tone of the “replacement” seems firmer. “If you don’t respond, then a decision can be made based on the information we have now,” he says.
The Serb understands that the trap is closing and begins to inquire about the possible sequence of events. He was then explained that he could be taken to a hotel that served as a detention center for migrants. New suspension from 6:14 a.m. to 7:38 a.m.
This time, Djokovic is officially notified of the cancellation of his visa and placed under the responsibility of the officer Beck in charge of his detention. “It has come to my attention that you are an illegal non-national in Australia,” she explains. Therefore, I am placing you in detention under section 189 (1) of the Migration Act 1958. ”It is 7:45 am. At the end of the most improbable night of his life, Novak Djokovic leaves the Melbourne terminal for the Park Hotel…
