Novak Djokovic says an incorrect answer was made on his Australian entry documents, breaching the country’s strict laws on reporting recent travel, as the government says it is still considering whether to deport the player.
Djokovic was held in immigration detention in Melbourne for several days after his visa was cancelled by border force officials, who questioned his medical exemption for a requirement to be vaccinated for Covid-19.
He was released on Monday after a judge quashed that decision, saying the cancellation of the visa was "unreasonable" because the player was not given time to consult with lawyers and tennis officials when he arrived in the country.
Djokovic says his travel declaration was filled in by his support team, who made an “administrative mistake” when they ticked the “no” box in response to whether he had travelled elsewhere in the 14 days before arriving in Australia.
He adds: “This was human error and certainly not deliberate. We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur.”