Novak Djokovic’s dad slams Australia for keeping son in ‘prison’

Novak Djokovic’s dad Srdjan slammed the Australian government (Image: Getty)Novak Djokovic’s father has hit out at the Australian government as the world No 8 waits to learn whether he can return to the country for the first Grand Slam tournament of 2023. Djokovic received an automatic three-year ban on entering Australia as a result of being deported at the start of this year, and his dad Srdjan has now hit out at authorities for keeping his son in ‘prison’ as the 35-year-old was made to stay in a government detention hotel in January.Djokovic hit headlines at the start of 2022 when he arrived in Australia unvaccinated with a medical exemption from Tennis Australia, only to have his visa cancelled at the border. After spending time in a government detention hotel he successfully appealed but had his visa revoked again by the then-Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, failing in his second appeal and finding himself deported on the eve of the Australian Open.Being deported from Australia results in an automatic three-year ban from returning to the country, and the nine-time champion Down Under is now waiting to learn whether this ban can be lifted in time for him to compete in January. As Djokovic continues to wait for news, his father has now spoken out and slammed authorities for how they handled things at the beginning of the year.Confirming that the world No 8 wanted to return to Australia if possible, Srdjan told K1 TV: ‘Novak is full of desire and enthusiasm to continue where he left off, not by his own will, but by the will of the people who gave him the right to decide where he will play. The same as he was when they expelled him.’JUST IN: Nadal already in Turin for ATP Finals after disappointing comeback Novak Djokovic’s father protested in Serbia when his son’s Australian visa was revoked (Image: Getty)But the 21-time Grand Slam champion’s father also accused the government of trying to ‘destroy’ his son, claiming the rules were only changed while Djokovic was en route to Australia, though the country had always required vaccination or a valid medical exemption to enter. He continued: ‘I have to choose my words, I didn’t choose them when they kept my child in prison which is the shame of all shames.’They wanted to break him and destroy him, to show through him that they can do whatever they want. While he was flying on a plane between Dubai and Melbourne they changed the law. Australia was responsible. The situation is the same now. I don’t know if it will change.’DON’T MISSCarlos Alcaraz becomes most successful Spaniard after Rafael NadalZverev’s brother gives fresh injury update as comeback plans outlinedBritain’s BJK Cup captain hits out at lack of support despite home tie Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia in January (Image: Getty)