Czech player Renata Voracova joins Novak Djokovic in Australian detention

A second Australian Open participant, Renata Voracova has been placed into detention in a sweep by authorities on those who entered the country under the same vaccination exemption as Novak Djokovic, Czech authorities and ABC reported on Friday.

Renata Voracova had played in Melbourne earlier this week. But she has been asked to leave Australia after being detained by Border Force officials. It was unclear if she intended to challenge the decision, ABC reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

“I’m in a room and I can’t go anywhere. My window is shut tight, I can’t open it five centimeters. And there are guards everywhere, even under the window, which is quite funny. Maybe they thought I would jump and run away. They bring me food and there’s a guard in the corridor. You have to report, everything is rationed. I feel a bit like in prison. We are athletes we came to play Tennis not to resolve local disputes here. We read all of the rules, met all of the conditions. And only received an exemption after a lengthy process,” Renata Voracova told the Czech dailies DNES and Sport.

“The federal officials let me in immediately. I was held at the Victoria state checkpoint as they sent my papers somewhere. But then they confirmed I was free to enter without problems. It felt like in an action movie and it wasn’t pleasant at all. I would have to ask for another visa and wait for a week, locked up in a hotel, without training. It doesn’t make sense. So I’m waiting for a permit (to leave), on Saturday perhaps.” she added

“We are athletes we came to play Tennis not to resolve local disputes here”: Renata Voracova

Reports have stated that both Novak and Renata are being kept at the modest Park Hotel in inner-city Melbourne. It is the same hotel where scores of asylum seekers are housed. In a report citing the Czech Foreign Ministry, CNN confirmed that Voracova is in the same detention as Djokovic.

“We can confirm that the Czech tennis player Renata Voráčová is in the same detention as Djokovic, together with several other tennis players, in Melbourne. Our Consulate General in Sydney is now dealing with the situation. And is in touch with the tennis player,” the Czech Foreign Ministry said as quoted by CNN.

The 38-year-old made her grand slam debut in doubles in 2002 in New York. But she has won only one match in 12 appearances at the highest level and is currently ranked 81. It is understood that Voracova planned to leave after being caught in the situation. The Czech Foreign Ministry in a statement said: “Renata Voracova decided to drop out of the tournament. Due to limited possibilities for training and to leave Australia.”