Novak Djokovic, Australian Open: Tennis star detained in refugee hotel in Melbourne after court row

Multi-millionaire Novak Djokovic has spent his first night in a $104-a-night Melbourne hotel used as refugee housing, as supporters camped out to hold a candlelit vigil demanding his release.

A far cry from his $15million Marbella mansion, the Park Hotel in the city's CBD has seen detainees complaining of mouldy and maggot-ridden food as recently as last week, with his father calling the tennis star's detention 'an attack on Serbia'.

The world's best tennis player touched down in Melbourne late on Wednesday night to compete for a record 10th Australian Open title, only to be informed his medical exemption from being vaccinated against Covid was not sufficient - sparking a bitter diplomatic row.

The Serbian president has come out swinging at Scott Morrison, accusing his government of embarking on a 'political witch hunt' after revoking his visa and preparing to deport him home.

Djokovic will remain at the hotel until his legal battle is resolved on Monday, with a team of lawyers working through the night to keep him in Australia - forcing him to remain in limbo and endure less than five-star conditions.

The accommodation has become that of infamy, operating as a holding facility for refugees imprisoned on Manus Island and Nauru who are seeking urgent medical care under now defunct Medevac laws.

His brother Djordje Djokovic claimed the star was in a 'dirty room without any belongings' and being treated 'like a criminal'. 

Srdjan leads a rally in front of the National Assembly in Serbia as demonstrations broke out calling for Djokovic to be released

A candlelight vigil was held outside the hotel in Carlton as Djokovic fans show their support for the detained tennis star (pictured on Thursday night)

Tensions reached breaking point as police clashed with demonstrators outside Park Hotel on Thursday

Support of Novak Djokovic holds banner as rallies of support unfolded outside the Park Hotel in Melbourne CBD on Thursday night

Djokovic's father Srdjan at a press conference after his son was placed into a hotel room in Melbourne's CBD on Thursday

Refugees staying at the Park Hotel have previously claimed to find 'live maggots' crawling through their food (pictured) - saying living conditions are below basic human rights. It is a far cry from Djokovic's usual life of luxury

Moments before Novak Djokovic was taken away to a detention hotel he was pictured at the Border Force check in counter - where he is said to have presented a pile of paperwork to prove his exemption

A team representing the Minister for Immigration said in a late hearing on Thursday they 'would not oppose an interim injunction' barring the government from deporting Djokovic until the next hearing - meaning he will remain at the hotel over the weekend.

Masses of supporters surrounded the building on Thursday, holding anti-vaccination placards, waving Serbian flags and chanting for their hero. 

A candlelight vigil for the 34-year-old was even held in Lincoln Park opposite the accommodation.

They were contrasted by dozens of refugee activists, taking advantage of the media presence to champion their cause, clashing with police as they were led away while baffled detainees watched through the hotel windows.

Protestors staged a rally outside Park Hotel on Thursday night calling for Djokovic to be freed

Thousands of supports turned up to the rally in Serbia to demonstrate against Djokovic's treatment in Australia

Djokovic's impassioned father spoke at the rally calling for Australian authorities to release his son

Thousands of demonstrators rallied outside of the National Assembly to throw their support behind Djokovic

Supports wave the Serbian national flag as they attended the rally outside the National Assembly

Demonstrators light candles outside the Park Hotel as they called for Australian authorities to release Djokovic

Tensions escalated outside the Park Hotel in Melbourne as demonstrators clashed with police

A group of demonstrators hold the Serbian national flag during the rally outside the Park Hotel on Thursday night

Supports of Djokovic wearing the Serbian national flag as cloaks during the rally outside the hotel in Melbourne

Djokovic's mother Diana spoke at the press conference in Serbia to condemn the treatment of her son

Novak Djokovic will spend the weekend inside the $104 per night Hotel Park (pictured) in Carlton in Melbourne for the weekend after arriving in Australia apparently without an eligible vaccine exemption ahead of the 2022 Australian Open

A demonstrator is led away by police after attending a protest against detention centres at the same hotel where Novak Djokovic is being held (pictured on Thursday night)

Some refugees have shared their horror stories of being trapped inside the hotel for several years, with what they claim is inedible food, no fresh air and no access to workout equipment. 

'[The maggots] were alive in the plastic dish. People refused to eat it and demanded that it be taken away,' a refugee told SBS.

'There was no other food bought to replace it. So they either ate the maggot-infested food, the mouldy bread or went hungry. Most went hungry.' 

In a matter of hours, Djokovic saw his hopes at becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slams go up in smoke after proudly posting to Instagram that he had received 'exemption permission' and was Australia bound. 

He will remain in the Park Hotel until Monday, living alongside 33 other detainees from offshore detention centres.

The Park Hotel, once Rydges Carlton, is described as a 'luxurious 4.5-star hotel' that coincidentally features tennis courts, a pool, wellness facilities and a business centre.

The judge in charge of his legal case asked during proceedings if the hotel he was staying at had a tennis court that Djokovic could practice on.

The conditions are likely to be a far cry from Djokovic's luxury Marbella mansion where the 34-year-old recently moved to after spending 15 years living in Monte Carlo

Novak Djokovic (pictured) will remain in the hotel until at least Monday - a facility used to house refugees that has recently seen fires across two floors and a Covid outbreak (pictured in Adelaide hotel quarantine before last year's Australian Open)

Pictured: The Park Hotel, once Rydges Carlton, coincidentally features a tennis court, a pool, wellness facilities and a business centre

Rather than hosting guests from around Australia and the world, the Park Hotel has instead been home to refugees before becoming a hotel quarantine facility for returning residents.

In October last year the hotel saw a Covid outbreak, with 22 of the 46 detainees testing positive and one man rushed to hospital.

Then in late December two fires broke out in the building, with one man rushed to hospital with smoke inhalation.

The third and fourth floors were impacted by the blaze, with refugees now kept on the second floor, but they are unable to access the gym as a result of the damage.

Some even claimed they were not safely evacuated during the inferno.

His new living arrangements are a far cry from his Spanish digs - which feature a tennis court, stunning pool and cinema (pictured)

There are 33 men currently detained in the hotel (pictured) after being flown from Manus Island and Nauru under now defunct medevac laws

It is likely a very different experience from his usual digs, a $15million mansion in Marbella which he moved to with his wife last year after living in Monaco for 15 years.

His palatial home features a swimming pool with ocean views, poolside cabanas and even a private cinema.

But in his new accommodation, detainees have complained for years about their treatment.

Refugees, some of whom have been prisoners for nine years, say they have been robbed of basic human rights in the hotel, with some not having been outside for more than a year.

'There's no laundry, we are washing our clothes by hand,' Iraqi asylum seeker Mustafa Salah said. 'There's no gym and no fresh air.'  

'I was just shocked. The food they've been delivering is putting people in danger. Even an animal cannot eat this type of food.'

Some of the prisoners have complained of receiving mouldy food, with one image showing stains on pieces of bread (pictured)

Protesters climb above the awning of the Park Hotel's entrance in support of the 33 refugees being imprisoned inside the venue, making the most of the media presence outside (pictured on Thursday)

Refugees inside the Park Hotel watch as chaos ensues around them, with increased exposure on their plight by Djokovic also being housed in the accommodation (pictured on Thursday)

Djokovic's Marbella home of course features its own tennis court (pictured) - a luxury he will be without until at least Monday as he remains inside the Park Hotel - unable to leave his room

People hold candles, flags and signs outside the Park Hotel in support for Djokovic on Thursday night (pictured), who has previously criticised mandatory vaccines

The Serbian President made a desperate plea to his  Australian counterparts after learning of the hotel where Djokovic is being held.

Aleksandar Vucic said during a press conference on Thursday night from Belgrade he had spoken to the tennis star twice since he was denied entry into Australia and said it was a 'political chase' on the world no.1.  

'That's what Novak has requested from his country and it is our duty to safeguard our citizens,'⁣ President Vucic said of moving Djokovic to a hotel where he can 'move around'.

'It's not fair that a political chase is happening headed by the Prime Minister of Australia. They have allowed in similar players, but not Novak Djokovic.

'It is clear to everyone what is happening. I am not one to mince words, I am not afraid of speaking the truth. My job is to shield the citizens of Serbia and the truth.'

The president also said he had communicated with the 20-time Grand Slam winner's family.

'I have also spoken to Novak Djokovic's father, but I am afraid that sort of political provocation is going to continue, as they can't defeat him another way,' President Vucic said. 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (pictured) said during a press conference on Thursday night he had spoken to the tennis star twice since he was denied entry into Australia

Dozens of Serbian tennis fans gather outside the Park Hotel into the night to support the 34-year-old champion while he awaits his Australian Open fate (pictured on Thursday)

A man and his dog stand protest outside the building where the world's best tennis player has been detained by Australian Border Force authorities (pictured on Thursday night), with a placard saying 'toxic vax rape is evil'

Furious at his son's treatment, Srdjan Djokovic held his own press conference in Belgrade overnight, claiming the tennis champion is being 'held captive'.

He reportedly still does not have any of his belongings, and is being denied access to a mobile phone. 

'Our Novak, our pride. Novak is Serbia and Serbia is Novak,' his father said. 

'They are trampling over Serbia and by doing that, they are trampling on the Serbian people.

'The leader of that faraway land, Scott Morrison … dared to attack Novak and expel him before he had reached their country. They had wanted to throw him to his knees, and not just him, but our beautiful Serbia.'

Calling his son 'the pride of the entire free world', he said Serbians were a peaceful people and looked only to 'defend themselves'. 

'We Serbs are a proud people, who are proud of our [the] light at the end of the tunnel, and that is our Novak. That political oligarchy will not extinguish it,' he added. 

Djokovic's furious brother said Scott Morrison (pictured on Thursday) had 'attack Novak' and 'wanted to throw him to his knees', comparing it to an attack on all of Serbia

Explosive emails from Health Minister Greg Hunt to the CEO of Tennis Australia prove the organisation had sufficient warning Novak Djokovic would not be granted entry to Australia

Likewise the tennis champion's brother, Djordje Djokovic, called the fracas the 'greatest sporting and diplomatic scandal'.

He claimed that the star's team had 'no way' of contacting the Federal Government about his exemption before his arrival, and had been liaising only through Tennis Australia. 

'He was treated like a criminal while he is a healthy and decent man and a sportsman who has not endangered anyone’s life and has not committed any federal or legal offence', he added.  

Djokovic arrived in Melbourne late on Wednesday night after announcing on Instagram he had received 'an exemption permission' to enter Australia, despite seemingly being unvaccinated.

On arrival, he was told he was not eligible to enter, and his justification for an exemption did not fall under ATAGI's criteria.

An email sent by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt explained that a prior infection in the last six months did not constitute an exemption 

An explosive email from Health Minister Greg Hunt to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley warning of this very predicament has also emerged.

'The Australian Border Force has advised that people must be fully vaccinated, as defined by ATAGI (the national advisory body on vaccines) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia,' Mr Hunt wrote.

'In relation to your specific questions, I can confirm that people who contracted Covid-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas, and have not received two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration-approved or recognised vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.' 

The 34-year-old's legal team appealed to Judge Anthony Kelly to review the decision made by the Department of Home Affairs to deport the world No. 1. 

Djokovic's barrister Nick Wood SC told the court on Thursday he was determined to find a way for his client to play in the Australian Open on January 17, and the visa issue is what is standing in his way.

A protester fighting for the rights of refugees clashes with police outside the venue where Djokovic will remain through the weekend (pictured on Thursday night)

Women dressed in Serbian colours with flags draped around their bodes supported their tennis hero from outside his hotel on Thursday night (pictured)

'The absence of a visa, if the cancellation decision is valid, is an insuperable obstacle to Mr Djokovic competing in the tournament,' Mr Wood said.

Judge Kelly said the court is 'trying to do everything it can to assist these parties but there has to be sensible limits.'

He adjourned the matter until Monday 10am urging both parties to work together to work together amicably so a solution can be found.

Christopher Tran, who is representing the government, agreed he does not consider it 'in the interests of justice' to make a hasty decision this evening.

The court also heard Tennis Australia wants a 'definitive answer' about whether Djokovic will be able to play by Tuesday as it needs to begin scheduling ahead of the Melbourne Grand Slam which commences January 17. 

Novak Djokovic (with wife Jelena) will be sent on the first plane home if he can't provide evidence to support his vaccination exemption, Scott Morrison had warned, just hours before his arrival Down Under

'The tail won't be wagging the dog here, Mr Wood,' Judge Kelly responded.

'If Tennis Australia decides to do what it wants to do in running its enterprise, it will.'

But Judge Kelly did say he was 'strongly inclined' to get the matter dealt with as quickly as possible adding that he is opened to Djokovic giving evidence during the online hearing.

It comes amid reports Tennis Australia granted medical exemptions to two other individuals who don't meet the requirements, both of them are now subjects of Border Force investigations.

Australian Border Force officials are now investigating their cases, ABC Defence Correspondent reported.

Rival Rafael Nadal also spoke out in response to the Novak Djokovic situation - saying he should have expected there to be 'consequences' for not being vaccinated

Fellow tennis superstar Rafael Nadal was drawn into the fiasco on Thursday, with the usually diplomatic player placing the blame at the feet of Djokovic.

'If you don't want to get the vaccine, you're going to have some troubles. I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia [at the Australian Open] without a problem,' the world No. 6 said.

'He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences.

'Of course I don't like the situation that is happening. In some way I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision.'