Coaches defend Novak Djokovic after tennis star’s Covid confession

Two legendary Serbian tennis coaches have come to Novak Djokovic’s defence after the star made a surprising admission.

Novak Djokovic’s tennis mentor has come to the Serbian star’s defence after he admitted he supplied false information on his travel paperwork to enter Australia.

Bogdan Obradovic says Djokovic made a “human mistake” following the unvaccinated world No.1’s admission about his travel declaration.

Djokovic also conceded that he ­attended an event in his home country after testing positive for Covid-19 in breach of local restrictions.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Djokovic said his agent had accidentally ticked the incorrect box on his declaration form to say he hadn’t travelled in the 14 days before he arrived in Australia from Spain.

Djokovic, who had travelled from Spain to Belgrade in that period, said it was an “administrative mistake” that was “human error and certainly not deliberate”.

The tennis champion also admitted to attending an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe on December 18 despite knowing he was Covid-positive, which he didn’t disclose to the journalist.

He said he then realised this had been an “error of judgment” and he accepted he should have rescheduled the interview.

Novak Djokovic practises in Melbourne as he waits to see if his visa will be cancelled for a second time. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Serbian coach Obradovic appeared on Australian breakfast television to defend his protege, saying the visa paperwork error was a mistake anyone could have made.

“He was focused on how to win his 10th title in the Australian Open, not focused on visa issues,” he told Sunrise.

Addressing the issue of Djokovic’s mingling in public while knowingly Covid-positive, Obradovic said Djokovic was in a difficult situation.

“He made a mistake and he has admitted that was not good, but what can we do now in this moment?” he said.

“He didn’t even think about anything negative in that moment, he was trying to help with those journalists to finish the job and he is a really human guy, he likes to help everybody.”

Alex Hawke could use his ministerial powers to have Djokovic deported. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ladis Lars Kis, Djokovic’s former coach, said the tennis star made an “honest mistake” when he completed his travel paperwork and did not intend to break any rules.

“In my opinion we’ve lost a little bit of common sense on this issue,” Kis told Sky News on Thursday.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is weighing up whether to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time, which would prevent him from competing in the Australian Open tournament.

A judge on Monday quashed the federal government’s decision to revoke it upon his arrival in Melbourne on January 5 for being unvaccinated.

The ace player spent the night in immigration detention amid a frenzy of international media attention as the Victorian and federal governments both sought to deflect responsibility for the fiasco.