MELBOURNE (REUTERS, AFP) - World No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Friday (Jan 7) thanked people around the world for their support amid a visa row over Covid-19 vaccines that has seen him being detained at a Melbourne hotel ahead of this month's Australian Open.

"Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated," the Serb wrote on Instagram.

Djokovic was granted a medical exemption from Australia's strict Covid-19 vaccination requirement following a review by two independent panels prior to boarding his flight, but was denied entry upon landing in Melbourne late on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old is currently housed in a government detention hotel in the suburb of Carlton, 5km north of Melbourne Park, after authorities cancelled his visa when he arrived in Australia.

The player's lawyers launched an appeal seeking to overturn the federal government decision, with a court agreeing not to deport him before a full hearing scheduled for Monday.

Around 50 of his supporters – a mix of tennis fans, anti-vaccine demonstrators and immigrant rights activists – rallied in the rain on Friday, the Orthodox Christmas, outside the detention facility in Melbourne where it is thought he is being held.

“We come out to support him just because it’s our Christmas and obviously he’s going through a lot,” said fan Sash Aleksic. “There would obviously be a lot more people here if people did not have family obligations today.”

Not everyone was a supporter, though, reflecting anger at the case felt by many Australians, who have endured nearly two years of travel bans and rolling lockdowns.

“Refugees are welcome here, Djokovic is not,” chanted a group of protesters. Police intervened to separate them from the Djokovic fans.

“We want to show that what Novak stands for is anti-public health, anti-social solidarity, and we stand for the freedom of refugees who’ve been held for eight-plus years,” said Zak Barzovoy, a 27-year-old student.

The former Park Hotel, now officially known as an “alternative place of detention”, holds about 32 refugees and asylum seekers trapped in Australia’s hardline immigration system.

The five-storey centre gained notoriety last year when a fire forced migrants to be evacuated, and maggots were allegedly found in the food.

Djokovic’s family have said the hotel is “dirty”.

Foreigners are still mostly banned from travel to Australia, and those granted entry must be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

Djokovic said he had secured an exemption to play in the Australian Open this month, but the government said he did not meet the stricter standard required to enter the country.

Can play French Open

The authorities said the 34-year-old star provided no evidence of an exemption and was detained, pending deportation.

Djokovic’s stance on the Covid-19 vaccine has raised questions about his participation in other major tournaments this year.

But France’s sports minister said her country would allow him to play in the French Open, the next Grand Slam tournament of the year, which starts in May, even if he was not vaccinated.

“There are health protocols imposed for major events by the relevant federations which would permit someone like Novak Djokovic to enter the country,” Ms Roxana Maracineanu said.

“In France today we do not have the same regulations as Australia for entry to the country, either for athletes or any citizens from other countries,” she added.

Another player due to take part in the Australian Open, Czech player Renata Voracova, has had her visa cancelled and is in the same facility as Djokovic, her government said on Friday.

The Australian media reported that she has been told she would have to leave the country soon, but it was not known if she would mount a legal challenge, as Djokovic has done.