‘Return of Novak Djokovic to the hotel of horror!’ Serbian media angered by treatment of tennis star in Australia

‘Return of Novak Djokovic to the hotel of horror!’ Serbian media angered by treatment of tennis star in Australia

Novak Djokovic

On Friday, the Minister of Immigration, Alex Hawke announced his much awaited decision to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa for the second time in 10 days. The Serbian was set free by the court on Monday, but now, the Immigration Minister has used his discretionary power.

Serbian media have been angered over latest treatment of Novak Djokovic. The 34-year-old tennis player will be sent back to the Carlton Hotel, where he will be placed under detention. The living conditions in the hotel have been described as ‘inhumane’ by Djokovic’s parents.

A headline from a Serbian newspaper read: ‘Shame! The State calls for the arrest and return of Djokovic to the hotel of horror!’ Angers have been boiling all over Serbia, as Djokovic has been involved in the entire visa fiasco since the last 10 days.

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Also Read: PM Scott Morrison backs Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa

Novak Djokovic’s former coach calls the handling of the situation as a ‘shame’

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

Nikola Pilic, former coach of Novak Djokovic has termed the entire situation as a shame. He stated that Djokovic does not deserve such treatment, and a decision could have been made much earlier by Alex Hawke.

“It’s a shame, Novak doesn’t deserve it,” said Pilic. “They could have told Novak that he couldn’t play and not come, and not that the tournament director and doctors give him the green light and on arrival treat him like a criminal,” he added.

Even former Serbian tennis player, Janko Tipsarevic stated that the entire situation was a toxic shame for all those who were involved. “It is a toxic shame for everyone involved in this process,” he said.

Novak Djokovic is due to be questioned again on Saturday morning, and a decision could be expected over the weekend. The Serbian faces a three-year ban from entering the country, or even a five year imprisonment if he is found to submit false evidence to the Border Authorities.

Also Read: “Novak Djokovic saw an opportunity to get an exemption, so he took it, you cannot blame him for that,” Ons Jabeur