Visa woes continue: Did Novak Djokovic forget that he had travelled internationally?

As Immigration Minister Alex Hawke considers whether to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time, telling Novak to go back, new information has emerged that throws Novak’s travel history and visa application into question once again.

Late on Tuesday, January 11, it was revealed that Djokovic’s travel declaration may include falsified information. This document claimed that Djokovic had not travelled overseas in the 14 days prior to his entry to Australia. However, pictures have emerged of Djokovic playing tennis in Spain, allegedly between the dates of December 31, 2021, and January 4, 2022. Djokovic then entered Australia on January 5, 2022.

And there’s fresh questions over Novak Djokovic’s Australian Travel Declaration – in which he declared he hadn’t travelled in the 14 days before he flew to Australia on Jan 5. He was seen playing Tennis in Serbia on Dec 25, and training in Spain on Jan 2. pic.twitter.com/s4fGZNc280

— Karen Sweeney (@karenlsweeney) January 11, 2022

Should this claim be true, it raises more questions about Djokovic’s visa. Perhaps the most important, and somewhat strange question that needs answering: Did Novak Djokovic forget that he had travelled from Serbia to Spain, before entering Australia?

This is just the latest question mark to be served in the unfolding Djokovic visa case.

On January 11, speculation and concern surrounding Djokovic’s alleged positive Covid-19 test, and the dates which he was positive for Covid-19 came under intense scrutiny.

ABC reports that “Djokovic received an exemption to bypass hotel quarantine and defend his Australian Open crown on the basis he tested positive to COVID-19 on December 16.” However Abc reports also indicate that “photos have since emerged of the Serb, who told immigration authorities he was not vaccinated, attending various functions in the period after he said he tested positive for COVID-19.”

This puts quite the shadow across the validity of the claim Djokovic has made, that he tested positive for Covid-19 on December 16. What is known is that Djokovic tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16, then failed to isolate, as per Serbian requirements. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić shared that if Djokovic had known the results of his test before attended the events as which he was photographed, he would be in clear violation of the rules. However, Brnabić added: “I don’t know when he received the test result, when he read it.”

On January 10, Hawke announced that he still had the “personal power” to cancel Djokovic’s visa.

“The Minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing,” the statement said.

NEW:

More document trouble for Novak Djokovic.

On his Australian Travel Declaration, released by federal court yesterday, Djokovic stated he had NOT traveled in 14 days prior to his Jan 6 arrival here.

In fact, Djokovic had traveled from Belgrade to Spain within that time. pic.twitter.com/Vle7Gg8ycz

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 11, 2022

We will keep you updated as this story develops.