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Novak Djokovic's Australian saga: A timeline

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, SCOTT MORRISON, SAYING:"Rules are rules."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S MOTHER, DIJANA DJOKOVIC, SAYING:"They are keeping him as a prisoner. It's just not fair, it's not human."

(Victoria Premier) "Just get vaccinated."

December 16, 2021

The tennis world No. 1 and vaccine skeptic

tests positive for coronavirus

according to his affidavit to the Australian federal court

December 17

Djokovic appears maskless at a charity event in Belgrade

He says he did not get his PCR result until after the event

December 18

Djokovic breaks Serbia's isolation rules

for an interview with L'Equipe newspaper

December 30

Tennis Australia grants Djokovic a temporary medical exemption

from the country's vaccine requirements

on the grounds of previous infection

which garnered a mixed response

(Jamie Murray) ''I think if it was me that wasn't vaccinated, I wouldn't be getting an exemption.''

January 1, 2022

Djokovic tells his agent to fill out his travel declaration to enter Australia

The form states he had not traveled in the 14 days prior

to his expected departure from Spain on January 4

January 4

Djokovic announces on Instagram that he's traveling to Australia

His impending arrival prompts a backlash in Australia

which has undergone some of the world's toughest COVID-19 lockdowns

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MELBOURNE LOCAL, ALISON, SAYING:

''… he wasn't vaccinated, so he shouldn't have been allowed in, like anybody else. He shouldn't be given special, there shouldn't be any special arrangements for him.’’

January 5

Djokovic touches down in Melbourne

January 6

Australia's Border Force detains Djokovic

denying him permission to enter the country

and notifying him of their intention to remove him

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TENNIS PLAYER, RAFAEL NADAL, SAYING:

"I think if he (Novak Djokovic) wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem...He makes his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences."

January 7

Djokovic faces 72 hours holed up in a hotel for asylum seekers

after a court agreed to hear his appeal against his canceled visa

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S MOTHER, DIJANA DJOKOVIC, SAYING:

"I feel terrible since yesterday, last 24 hours, that they are keeping him as a prisoner. It's just not fair, it's not human."

January 10

Djokovic is freed from detention after a virtual court hearing

SOUNDBITE) (English) NINE NEWS NEWSREADER, CHARLES CROUCHER, SAYING:

"….. Novak Djokovic is free to play in the Australian Open after a stunning victory at the Federal Court moments ago. A judge finding the decision to cancel his visa was unreasonable, ordering his immediate release from detention."

TWEET BY SERBIAN TENNIS PLAYER NOVAK DJOKOVIC, READING (English):

"I'm pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete at Australian Open. I remain focused on that."

January 12

Djokovic apologizes for the mistake on the immigration form

and for leaving quarantine for the L'Equipe interview

The Australian government says it's still considering whether to cancel his visa

January 13

Djokovic is included in the Australian Open draw as top seed