Djokovic quarantined awaiting deportation hearing

Men's tennis world number one Novak Djokovic will be holed up at this quarantine hotel in Melbourne until Monday, awaiting a deportation hearing.

The Serbian player, who has publicly criticized mandatory vaccines but consistently refused to disclose his own inoculation status, had his visa revoked when entering Australia ahead of the Australian Open.

Djokovic's family argue he's been a victim of politics, and in Serbia the tennis star's mother Dijana accused Australia of keeping her son captive.

"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. So I just hope that he will be strong, as we are trying also to be very strong."

Border control forces say the tennis star failed to provide sufficient proof of a medical exemption from vaccination - a requirement set out by the country's government.

A previous medical exemption caused a storm of protest in Australia and the saga has led to an international, political row, with Serbia's president claiming his nation's most celebrated sportsman was being harassed.

Fans of the tennis player, meanwhile, staged a protest of support outside Djokovic's quarantine hotel, while hundreds stood outside the Serbian parliament to take a stand against the entry ban.

And major tennis stars like Rafael Nadal have also waded into the debate.

"Of course I don't like the situation that is happening. In some way I feel sorry for him but at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision."

But for now, Djokovic is in limbo as his lawyers seek an urgent injunction against his deportation.