Novak Djokovic's father, Srdjan holds press conference amid detention in Australia: "They crucified Jesus, now they are crucifying Novak"

Novak Djokovic's father, Srdjan convened a press conference at the Novak restaurant in Belgrade, Serbia as a result of the World No.1 remaining in detention after challenging the cancellation of his visa.

Late last night, Djokovic had his Australian visa cancelled and was told to go home after issues arose regarding his exemption and visa but he challenged that with a federal injunction.

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He will now spend Christmas in Australia and has been denied the request to spend his quarantine period in a rented apartment where his team currently is.

He doesn't have his wallet and his belongings are still at the airport as per Sasa Ozmo with bugs in his room in accommodation dubbed the 'hotel of horrors' by Telegraf who transcribed the press conference.

Novak Djokovic's youngest brother was the first to speak in the press conference calling it allegedly the biggest scandal in the history of sport.

"Novak did not break any rules, he was in communication with the authorities in Australia all the time, every protocol was respected, until he came to the border, where harassment began, which can be called a serious diplomatic violation. He was then taken to an isolation room, where he was interrogated by border police.

"Novak communicated with his family and team members for the first 45 minutes, when communication was abruptly cut off because his phone was confiscated for three and a half hours. After that, his phone was returned to him, but he was then taken to another room, which is the airport detention."

"The court ordered that Novak not be deported until Monday morning. Novak could return on his own, but then a three-year ban would come. Novak does not want that, they treated him like a criminal, he is an honest athlete who did not commit any offense."

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Emotional speech from father

His father as alluded to also went on a rant about the situation comparing the record equalling Grand Slam winner's plight to Jesus.

"They're holding Novak captive. Novak is Serbia, and they are trampling Novak, and they are trampling Serbia. That man, Scott Morrison, whose name says it all, dared to attack Novak and expel him, and he did not even enter their country. They wanted to underestimate him, to humiliate him and Serbia.

"We are Serbs, a proud people, we never attacked anyone, we just defended ourselves. That is what our Serb, Novak, is doing now, with his behavior towards the hosts, the organizers. Novak is a light at the end of the tunnel. That political oligarchy will not extinguish that, I don't have enough words to call those politicians, because this has nothing to do with sports. He fulfilled all the conditions needed to enter and win another of their famous Australian Open."

"And he would win it, of course, it is Novak, the best tennis player and the best athlete in the world. But that cannot be said by word of mouth by those experts, those few hundred million people from that western world who think the world is theirs.

"Jesus was crucified on the cross, and everything was done to him, but he is alive among us even now. Now Novak is being crucified, they are doing everything to him."