Renata Voráčová becomes second tennis player detained in Australia

It was confirmed by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra that Czech tennis athlete, Renata Voráčová, had been detained in Melbourne. Voráčová became the second tennis player to be detained by Australian authorities this week, after Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked male player in the world and reigning Australian Open men’s singles champion, was detained following the cancellation of his visa on Wednesday.

A statement from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra read, “the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra confirms that Czech tennis player Renata Voráčová was detained in Melbourne on 6 January 2022 and is now in a specialized detention hotel.”

The statement also confirmed that Voráčová's visa had been revoked under circumstances similar to Djokovic’s case. The Embassy claimed that Voráčová had been granted a “valid medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination,” and that “until yesterday the Australian authorities had no problem with her stay in the country.”

The Embassy also stated that they had “sent a note to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade asking for a thorough explanation of the situation, an explanation of the circumstances of her detention and an explanation of why our player was taken to a detention hotel.”

Additionally, it was confirmed by the Embassy that Voráčová had decided to leave Australia at the “earliest possible date,” skipping the Australian Open.

According to ESPN, the Australian Border Force (ABF) confirmed further investigations into the visa status of two other people connected to the Australian Open had taken place after Djokovic was detained, and that one person had left the country voluntarily, while another had been detained awaiting deportation.

One crucial difference between Voráčová's and Djokovic’s cases is that Voráčová had already been allowed to enter the country and play in a match. Djokovic, on the other hand, was detained after his visa was revoked shortly after he landed at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport.

A statement from the ABF read, “The ABF can confirm that Mr. Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled.”

The ABF also stated, “non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia.”

Djokovic was subsequently detained and taken to an immigration hotel in Melbourne, where he remains as he awaits to challenge the cancellation of his visa at the Federal Circuit Court on Monday.

Djokovic posted his first public statement on the matter through his Instagram account on Friday, stating, “thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated.”

Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, spoke with reporters in Belgrade on Thursday, saying, “they’re keeping him in captivity. They’re stomping all over Novak to stomp all over Serbia and Serbian people.”

He added, “This has nothing to do with sports, this is a political agenda. Novak is the best player and the best athlete in the world, but several hundred million people from the West can’t stomach that.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also weighed in on the situation, posting on Twitter; “Mr. Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID-19, and we are continuing to be vigilant.”

It seems unlikely that the debate around Djokovic’s case, vaccination requirements, and the Australian government’s actions will slow down over the weekend, as the Australian Open draws nearer.

Play at the Australian Open is due to begin on January 17. Voráčová's trip to Australia seems to have drawn to a close, but it remains to be determined if Djokovic will be allowed to enter the country and play for the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup.