NOVAK Djokovic was subjected to an eight-hour ordeal where he was deliberately sleep-deprived and confused by Australian border officials, his lawyers claim.
The antivaxxer’s legal team said he only relented and agreed to the cancellation of his visa because he was shocked and muddled by the turmoil.
They argue pressure allegedly put onto the tennis ace to agree without advice from a legal rep was unlawful.
Djokovic, 34, is facing the boot from the Australian Open after his visa was sensationally revoked on Wednesday.
The claims come in court documents submitted ahead of the 34-year-old’s trial tomorrow, with solicitors claiming he was unfairly pressured into the decision.
The Serbian nine-time winner Down Under was given his marching orders following a six hour stand-off at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport and a U-turn by Australian authorities.
He had been granted a vaccine exemption – his lawyers said, because he contracted Covid-19 in December – to compete before his visa was dramatically cancelled.
But now his legal team claim he only agreed to the cancellation because he was disorientated by lack of sleep, and left reeling by official’s “procedurally unfair” treatment.
The Mail on Sunday reports Djokovic’s visa had “effectively” been cancelled while he was still airborne on the the Boeing 777-300ER craft from Dubai, and border officials learned of his case.
The court documents claim Aussie officials made “mischievous and spurious” attempts to rush him into signing off on the cancellation.
The papers make use of the transcript from his 30-minute interview with security staff, which kicked off at 12.21 am.
According to the MoS, Djokovic claims: “I explained that I had been infected with Covid in December 2021 and on this basis I was entitled to a medical exemption in accordance with Australian Government rules and guidance.”
He said that he then explained how he had previously provided proof of Covid PCR results, and argued for his visa not to be scrapped.
The documents say just under four hours later, at 3.55am, the tennis ace was told by officials that they planned top cancel his visa.
Some 15 minutes later, he was issued with an official notice of cancellation, and granted a 20 minute window in which to provide any further information, according to the papers.
It continues that Djokovic argued to extend the deadline to 8 or 8.30 am so that he could speak with Tennis Australia, his reps and legal team for advice.
Around 5.20 am he was given the OK on the extended deadline, the documents say, but while he was waiting for a bed to finally get some sleep, it’s claimed he was again pressured to agree to the cancellation
The papers claim he was then woken at 6am after less than 40 minutes of sleep, and again argued for a later deadline – around this time it is also claimed a supervisor told him it was “obvious” his visa would be cancelled.
The interview is then said to have restarted for seven minutes, with no new information arising.
Just before 7.30 am Djokovic visa was cancelled, and he was notified shortly afterwards, the documents said.
The 34-year-old said he was in “shock” at how the situation had unfolded.
His legal team have argued that he was exhausted and had been travelling for 25 hours before the drama came to an end.
The Serbian was detained in Melbourne airport for nine hours after touching down to play in the Australian Open, and has been holed up in a “grim” hotel since.
He sparked a major backlash after he was granted a vaccine exemption to play in the contest.
He has not openly spoken about his jab status, but last year did admit that he was “opposed” to vaccination.
