The best male tennis player in the world is currently being held in an airport room under armed guard after arriving in Australia to find out there is an issue with his visa.
Novak Djokovic finally looked set to play at the Australian Open after months of speculation over his vaccination status.
Local rules in the state of Victoria, where the tournament is held, state that all travellers must be fully vaccinated to enter, or at least have a valid medical exemption.
The Serb continues to refuse to say whether or not he has had the jab, citing medical privacy, but on Tuesday he declared he had an "exemption permission" to head Down Under.
But the plot took another dramatic twist when he arrived at Melbourne Airport late on Wednesday night local time, as he was told there was a discrepancy with his travel visa.
In a bid to smooth over the process, Border Force officials asked the Victoria state government if it would sponsor the tennis star's visa and allow him to enter the country.
However, that request was denied, with acting sports minister Jaala Pulford Tweeting: "The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic's visa application to enter Australia.
"We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
"We've always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors."
It leaves the defending Melbourne champion once again in the dark as to whether or not he will be able to defend his title in the bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
And while that decision is being mulled over by officials, Djokovic's father Srdjan says his son is being held in a room guarded by police.
"Novak is currently in a room which no one can enter," Djokovic Snr told the B92 internet portal. "In front of the room are two policemen."
Australia's home affairs minister Karen Andrews has clarified that, while the Victorian state government has the power to issue medical exemptions in advance, the final decision in Djokovic's case would be made by the Border Force.
"If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travellers," she said.
And the country's prime minister Scott Morrison added: "If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home."
