Australian authorities have revealed why they are not letting tennis star Novak Djokovic into the country, The Guardian reports.

The world No. 1 flew into Melbourne airport on Wednesday night with plans to defend his Australian Open title.

Instead, he is being held in a quarantine hotel, where he is set to be deported due to his unvaccinated status.

The Guardian states that the Australian Border Force held Djokovic for several hours at the airport before declaring his visa had been canceled.

In a statement, they said that the tennis star had “failed to provide appropriate evidence” to support his claim that he is exempt from Australia's requirement to be double vaccinated against Covid-19.

"The Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our laws and entry requirements," ABF said. "The ABF can confirm that Mr Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently canceled."

“Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa canceled will be detained and removed from Australia,” the statement concluded.

Djokovic has refused to reveal his vaccination status but claimed to have secured a medical exemption on Tuesday. Both Tennis Australia and the Victorian government confirmed his exemption.

While this seemingly cleared the way for Djokovic to compete in the Australian Open, Tennis Australia was not the only authority he had to appease.

Reports suggest that although he had a medical exemption to compete, the star did not have a valid visa to enter the country - something which the federal government had not granted him.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said: "There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever."

Aside from confirming that he tested positive for Covid-19 back in May 2020, Djokovic has been vague about both his vaccination status and his reason for seemingly seeking an exemption.

The world No. 1 tennis pro has instructed his lawyer to appeal his visa cancellation.

The Australian Open is set to begin on January 17, with or without its defending champion.

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Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after failing to ensure special permission to enter the United States.

As reported by BBC News, the 35-year-old tennis star - who is currently world number one - applied for special permission to enter the US because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19.

Only international visitors vaccinated against the virus are allowed to enter the country, but Djokovic has rejected getting any of the available jabs.

While the rules were predicted to conclude next month, the athlete had hoped that he would be made an exception, however, he has now dropped out as the tournament will begin on Wednesday.

The tournament took to their social media to announce the withdrawal news, writing: "World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 BNP Paribas Open. With his withdrawal, Nikoloz Basilashvili moves into the field."

Many of Djokovic's supporters have shared their reactions to the upsetting news, with one user stating: "A big loss for both Indian Wells and Miami. You always want the world No. 1 at your events."

Another commented: "So the tournament has basically lost all of its prestige over the last two years."

A third remarked: "Tennis paradise??? Number 1 player isn’t allowed to play?"

A fourth person shared: "I don’t understand why we are still abiding by this law. It’s been 3 years. It’s shameful and embarrassing that he can’t play in the US. Let him play!"

Djokovic’s resistance to being vaccinated resulted in him missing six important tournaments last season, including the Australian Open and US Open.

The athlete also caused controversy within the sports world after he said that he would skip Grand Slams rather than have a Covid-19 vaccination, as stated by BBC News.

However, he was allowed to travel to Melbourne in January and triumphed in a record-extending 10th Australian Open title, tying Rafael Nadal's men's record of 22 Grand Slam wins.

Before he withdrew from the BNP Paribas Open, he had received support from the US Open and the United States Tennis Association.

The US Open shared a statement on Twitter that read: "Novak Djokovic is one (of) the greatest champions our sport has ever seen. The USTA and US Open are hopeful that Novak is successful in his petition to enter the country, and that the fans will be able to see him back in action at Indian Wells and Miami."

After losing to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the ATP event in Dubai last week, Djokovic is set to return to action at the Monte Carlo Masters beginning on April 9.

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Two Melbourne newsreaders have been caught slamming tennis pro Novak Djokovic as an "a**hole" off-air, in a shocking leaked video.

Channel 7 anchors Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern can be heard calling the Serbian player out as a liar and a sneak, in a clip the network has since claimed is an "illegal recording".

Djokovic has been at the center of a media storm since last week when he was denied entry at Melbourne airport and sent to an infamous immigration detention hotel.

Border officials claimed the world No 1. did not satisfy visa requirements due to being unvaccinated and having insufficient proof of medical exemption.

A judge overturned their decision on Monday, ruling that the 34-year-old's proof of covid infection was sufficient exemption and that his visa should not have been rescinded. The star was given the green light to enter Australia and compete in the upcoming Australian Open, where he is the defending champion.

However, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is still considering whether to use his discretionary powers to re-cancel Djokovic's visa, after fresh doubts have arisen over an error on his application, and reports have emerged that he did not isolate properly when infected.

Amor and Maddern made their frank feelings on the situation known while preparing to read the 6 PM news on Tuesday night.

In a video leaked on social media, Maddern can be heard saying: "Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky, a***hole"

"It’s unfortunate that everybody else stuffed up around him. To go out when you know you’re Covid-positive - well, I don’t think he was even Covid-positive …"

Amor agreed that the tennis star was an "a**hole", adding "You’ve got a bulls**t f***ing excuse and then he fell over his own f***ing lies, which is what happens right? That’s what’s happened."

The pair continued chatting, saying that they thought Djokovic was "going to get away with it".

"I think most fair-minded people would say, ‘The bloke’s an a***hole’. Did they do the right thing by him? I don’t know. They f***ed it up. That’s the problem, isn’t it," Amor added.

Yahoo Sport Australia reports that Channel 7's Director of News and Public Affairs Craig McPherson responded to the clip on Wednesday morning, saying:

"The illegal recording was of a private conversation between two colleagues. It was an underhanded, cowardly act in breach of the Victorian Listening Devices legislation the perpetrator of which will be accordingly dealt with when found."

Meanwhile, Djokovic has since released a statement in which he attempts to clear up "misinformation" around himself.

The star claims that he did not know he had Covid when he attended a tennis event with children on December 17, but that he was aware he had tested positive when he gave a face-to-face interview with a French newspaper on December 18 - a decision he says he now regrets.

Djokovic also explained that the error on his visa application - where he falsely claimed he had not traveled prior to arriving in Australia - was a "human error" on the part of his agent and that his team had since supplied new information to the government.

Immigration Minister Hawke is still deliberating over whether the star will be allowed to stay and compete in the world-famous tournament, which is due to start on Monday.

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Australia has revoked tennis star Novak Djokovic's visa just days after they re-allowed it.

The world no. 1 has been at the center of a row over his right to remain in the country while unvaccinated, despite its requirement that all travelers without an exemption be double-vaxxed.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced today that he is revoking the Serbian player's visa after it was reinstated earlier this week, BBC News reports.

"Today I exercised my power... to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so," he said in a statement.

He added that "Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected."

The decision means that Djokovic - who was preparing to defend his title in the fast-approaching Australian Open - faces deportation and a three-year visa ban.

But the star isn't giving up yet; his lawyers made a late-night appearance before a federal judge seeking an injunction to prevent him from being deported or taken into detention, MailOnline reports.

They also plan to file a formal application for him to stay in the country as soon as possible, in a legal row that likely won't be resolved until the Australian Open starts on Monday morning.

The nine-time Australian Open winner's ability to compete in the tournament has been in limbo since January 6, when he was refused entry to Australia by border officials in Melbourne.

Despite being unvaccinated, Djokovic believed that he would be allowed entry to the country because he had proof of a recent infection, having tested positive for Coronavirus in December.

After spending the weekend in an infamous immigration detention center, the 34-year-old's visa was reinstated by a judge on Monday who agreed that his proof of recent infection satisfied the conditions of a medical exemption.

However, Immigration Minister Hawke has stepped in and once again revoked Djokovic's right to remain under separate powers in the Australian Migration Act, which allows him to deport anyone he deems a risk to "the health, safety or good order of the Australian community."

The player faces a nervous wait as his lawyers make a last-ditch appeal to the federal court and file an official application for his visa to be reinstated.

If all goes to plan, they expect a hearing to be scheduled for Sunday - just hours before the Open commences.

In the meantime, Djokovic will be allowed to stay in his current accommodation until Saturday morning, when he must meet immigration officials in Melbourne.

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On Sunday, Novak Djokovic lost his last-effort bid to remain in Australia and was deported from the country.

The ruling has resulted in the 34-year-old being unable to defend his title as champion in the 2022 Australian Open. This will further prevent the Serbian tennis star from potentially winning a record 21st Grand Slam.

Earlier today, Djokovic's legal team was unable to convince a three-judge panel that the government's decision to cancel the tennis star's visa was "invalid and illogical".

It comes after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his ministerial powers on Friday to revoke Djokovic's visa due to the Serbian star's unvaccinated status. In a statement, Hawke said: "Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so."

But Chief Justice James Allsop said that today's ruling was made on the lawfulness and legality of the minister's decision.

In response to the ruling, people in and out of the world of tennis have shared their thoughts on the decision.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg shared Novak's journey to this moment:

Tennis commentator David Law wrote: "It could have been so simple. 1) Get vaccinated, Novak, like 97 of the other Top 100.

"2) Have a rule that says you get vaccinated or you don’t play (unless your reason is so acute, and so beyond doubt that nobody sensible can dispute it)."

Piers Morgan was clearly happy at the news, branding Djokovic an "immigration form liar, & anti-vaxxer icon".

Health Editor for the Australian Natasha Robinson added: "Imagine bringing this entire s**tshow upon yourself and denying yourself the chance to be the most decorated player in tennis history for the sake of not getting one tiny goddamn jab."

Tennis writer and broadcaster Carole Bouchard was more sympathetic towards Djokovic, writing: "The way Djokovic has been treated since winning the first appeal is an utter disgrace. He is not a threat to Australia. He didn’t come here to excite any unvaxxed movement whatsoever. They perfectly know it."

Bouchard went on to call the ruling an "unreal twisting of the law" and "shameful".

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios - who has been vocal in his support of Djokovic's case - let his feelings be known with one emoji:

And French tennis player Alize Cornet wrote: "I know too little to judge the situation. What I know is that Novak is always the first one to stand for the players. But none of us stood for him. Be strong @DjokerNole".

Djokovic himself has also responded to the decision. In a statement he said: "I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister's decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.

"I respect the Court's ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.

"I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love."

He added: "Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, team, supporters, fans and my fellow Serbians for your continued support,' the player concluded.

"You have all been a great source of strength to me."

As reported by BBC News and the Daily Mail, the 34-year-old tennis star has now left Australia for Dubai after losing his last-effort court bid to remain in the country, with officials canceling Djokovic's visa - for a second time - on "health and good order" grounds.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion was spotted being escorted by Australian Federal Police at Melbourne Airport at 8:30PM local time, after leaving his detention hotel "without detection". Djokovic reportedly boarded an Emirates flight set for Dubai at 10:30PM local time.

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