However, photographs emerged on social media of him presenting prizes to dozens of children as part of a Serbian Tennis Association ceremony on Dec 17, while L’Equipe also revealed details of their interview.

Djokovic said that he wanted to put the record straight in order to alleviate “broader concern in the community about my presence in Australia, and to address matters which are very hurtful and concerning to my family. I want to emphasise that I have tried very hard to ensure the safety of everyone.”

According to his statement, Djokovic suspected he might have Covid after attending a basketball game in Belgrade on Dec 14, as several other people had tested positive afterwards. 

As he wrote, “Despite having no Covid symptoms, I took a rapid antigen test on Dec 16 which was negative, and out of an abundance of caution, also took an official and approved PCR test on that same day.”

Djokovic then added that, before attending the prizegiving ceremony the next day, he had taken another rapid antigen test and come up negative again. Only thereafter did he leave for the event. “I was asymptomatic and felt good,” he explained, “and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test result until after that event.”

‘Human error’ behind inaccurate form

Djokovic said that his interview with L’Equipe had been a long-standing commitment, and that he had cancelled all other activities apart from this one.

“I didn’t want to let the journalist down,” he wrote, “but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken. While I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.”

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said before Djokovic’s admission that any failure to isolate after testing positive for Covid would be classed as a “clear breach” of the law and merit investigation, with punishment ranging between a fine and three years in prison.

“If you’re positive you have to be in isolation,” Ms Brnabic told the BBC on Tuesday.

She added that she would consult with the “relevant authorities, and the medical people who are in charge of implementing these regulations” were it to be confirmed that Djokovic knowingly carried out public activities while being infected with the virus.

The maximum penalty for breaking health regulations in Serbia is a three-year prison sentence. Article 248 of Serbia’s Criminal Code states: “Whoever during an epidemic of a dangerous contagious disease fails to act pursuant to regulations, decisions or orders setting forth measures for its suppression or prevention, shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment of up to three years.”

In the same statement, Djokovic also addressed the fact that his immigration paperwork had failed to disclose the full details of his movements during the two weeks before he arrived at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. 

Djokovic’s Australian Travel Declaration form – which was filled in by his agent – said that he had come from Spain, but did not mention the fact that he had also been in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, on Christmas Day.

“My agent sincerely apologises for the administrative mistake,” Djokovic said. “This was a human error and certainly not deliberate. We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur. Today, my team has provided additional information to the Australian government to clarify this matter.”

Also on Wednesday, government sources confirmed that they had received new submissions from Djokovic’s lawyers, and said that any final decision on his visa would be delayed until Thursday at the earliest. Despite Judge Kelly’s ruling, Mr Hawke still has the right to cancel the visa at any time.

It comes as three residents of Belgrade on Tuesday told Reuters that Djokovic was in Serbia in the two weeks before flying to Australian Open from Spain, corroborating social media posts that contradict information contained in his immigration declaration on arrival in Melbourne.