Australia denies holding Novak Djokovic 'captive' and says it will help him leave the country whenever he wants

• Djokovic is in a Melbourne quarantine hotel over issues with his visa and coronavirus vaccine rules.
• Serbia's government has been critical, and his mother said he is being held "prisoner."

Australia denied claims that it was keeping the tennis star Novak Djokovic "captive" and said he was free to leave the country whenever he wants.

Djokovic is currently being held in a quarantine hotel in Melbourne, and may be deported after a visa issue prevented him entering the country to play in the Australian Open.

His parents and the government of his native Serbia have been highly critical, with his mother saying he is being held "prisoner" and the president accusing Australia of "harassment."

But Karen Andrews, Australia's home affairs minister, hit back against the criticism on Friday. In comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Andrews said Djokovic was free to leave any time — and that Australia would actually help him do so.

"Mr. Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia, he is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that," she said.

Djokovic had arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday under the impression that he would be able to compete in this month's Australian Open after being given a medical exemption that would allow him to play without having a COVID-19 vaccine.

However, upon arrival, his visa was revoked.

The Australian Border Force released a statement Thursday morning Australian time saying Djokovic had "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to enter Australia" and that we would subsequently be held and deported.

The Australian newspaper The Age reported that Djokovic had applied and been approved for the wrong type of visa that didn't allow for COVID-19 vaccine medical exemptions.

The 34-year-old is currently residing at The Park Hotel, a quarantine facility in the center of Melbourne's Carlton neighborhood, while his legal team contest his proposed deportation.

The facility has been used by the Australian government to detain refugees and asylum-seekers, many who have been held for years, while awaiting their visas to be approved. Detainees have previously complained of being served food replete with mold and maggots.

On Thursday, Djokovic's mother, Dijana, told reporters at a press conference that her son was being held as a "prisoner."

"I feel terrible since yesterday, the last 24 hours," she said.

"They are keeping him like a prisoner. It's just not fair. It's not human. I just hope he will be strong as we are trying also to be very strong to give him some energy to keep on going. I hope that he will win."

On the hotel, she added: "It's just some small immigration hotel, if we can call it a hotel at all. Some bugs, it's dirty, and the food is so terrible."