Novak Djokovic has said he shouldn't have met a journalist after testing positive for Covid-19, as Australia decides on his deportation.
The world number one tennis player is currently in Melbourne, preparing for the start of the Australian Open next week.
The Serb, who is unvaccinated, revealed he received a positive PCR test on December 17th and did not follow rules around isolation by meeting a journalist the following day.
Djokovic has also claimed that his agent filled out the entry form to Australia which stated he had not travelled elsewhere in the 14 days prior to his arrival in Australia on January 6th.
The player is understood to have been in Spain in that two week period.
The tournament starts on Monday and Djokovic is bidding for a 10th Australian Open an a record 21st Grand Slam title.
A federal court quashed his visa cancellation on Monday.
But the Australian Government still has the power to deport him for public health reasons.
Immigration Minister Alex Horne is expected to make a decision on the Djokovic case on Thursday.
In his statement on Instagram, Djokovic said:
"I want to address the continuing misinformation about my activities and attendance at events in December in the lead up to my positive PCR COVID test result.
"I attended a basketball game in Belgrade on December 14, after which it was reported that a number of people tested positive with Covid-19.
"Despite having no COVID symptoms, I took a rapid antigen test on December 16 which was negative, and out of an abundance of caution, also took an official and approved PCR test on the same day.
"The next day I attended a tennis event in Belgrade to present awards to children and took a rapid antigen test before going to the event, and it was negative.
"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification for a positive PCR test result until after that event.
"The next day, on December 18 I was at my tennis centre in Belgrade to fulfil a long-standing commitment for a L'Equipe interview and photoshoot. I cancelled all other events except for the L'Equipe interview.
"I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Equipe interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken.
"While I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment."
Djokovic added:
"On the issue of my travel declaration, this was submitted by my support team on my behalf - as I told immigration officials on my arrival - and my agent sincerely apologises for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box about my previous travel before coming to Australia.
"This was a human error and certainly not deliberate. We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur.
"Today, my team has provided additional information to the Australian Government to clarify this matter."
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