Australia has revoked the visa of Czech female tennis player Renata Vorakova, who entered the country to play at this month’s Australian Open, multiple media said on Friday.
AFP Video and photo images showed a woman posing as Vorakova peeping out the window of the Melbourne Immigration Detention Facility, where she was reportedly taken, on Friday evening.
National broadcaster ABC, The Age newspaper and the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the 38-year-old was detained by Australian Border Force officers.
According to reports, which could not be immediately confirmed with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Vorakova was moved to Melbourne’s Park Hotel building, which now serves as a detention facility for around 32 refugees and asylum seekers. works in.
He was reportedly told that he would have to leave the country soon. But it was not known whether she would face a legal challenge, as did Djokovic, the reports said.
Newspapers said Vorakova is believed to have entered Australia in December and claimed exemption from COVID-19 vaccination because she had recently been infected with the virus.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed on Friday that in addition to Djokovic, two other players or staff were under investigation for visa issues.
The Australian government said on Friday that recent infection with the COVID-19 virus does not mean a foreign national can enter the country without being fully vaccinated.
“Renata Vorakova is in the same detention (facility) along with Djokovic in Melbourne along with several other tennis players,” the ministry told AFP in an email.
The ministry said it was protesting the detention, but world number 81 Vorakova had agreed to leave Australia and not take part in the Open because “her training options are limited”.
Vaccine-skeptic Djokovic entered Australia this week on exemption from its strict pandemic restrictions.
But the world number one player was held in an immigration detention hotel in Melbourne and his visa was revoked, pending a court decision on his further stay expected on Monday.
The 34-year-old Djokovic is looking to clinch a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, starting January 17.
Vorakova, 38, a doubles specialist, also entered remission as she recently recovered from Covid, Czech daily Sport said.
Vorakova has already played with Poland’s Katarzyna Pitter at the Melbourne WTA event this week, but she was knocked out in the first round.
Sport said it has since had a “re-evaluation” waiver by the Australian.
The ministry said the Czech General Consulate in Sydney is dealing with the situation.
“As far as we know, she proved to be safe in a way that made her eligible to play,” the ministry said.
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