Novak Djokovic 'subjected to torture' while being detained, claims mum

Novak Djokovic won an appeal against the decision to refuse him a visa to enter Australia but he could still be deported from the country.

The family of Novak Djokovic held a press conference in Belgrade where his father, mother and brother took part. Djokovic was scheduled to appear at the press conference as well but ultimately did not do so. His mother Dijana Djokovic has claimed that her son was "subjected to torture" while being detained in Melbourne, Australia.

She said: "We are here to celebrate the victory of our son, a boy who learned not to put up with lies. He always fought for justice. He's done nothing wrong. He hasn't broken any of their laws. And he was subjected to torture, to harassment."

She further said:

"And of course, he fought against that system, against the government because he thought he had the right to be there with the visa he had and he went there to win the tournament."

Novak Djokovic is still facing the prospect of deportation despite winning an appeal against a decision to refuse him a visa in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia ahead of the Australian Open. Judge Anthony Kelly quashed the visa cancellation and ordered the Australian Government to pay legal costs and release Djokovic from detention within half an hour.

But Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke is still considering whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation of Djokovic’s visa in a process that could drag on for a number of days.