“It’s just some small, immigration hotel, if it is a hotel at all. With bugs, it’s all dirty, the food is terrible,” she said.

Mr Djokovic, who has not been vaccinated against Covid-19, was detained when he disembarked at Melbourne airport ahead of this month’s Australian Open on Wednesday night.

The star had been issued with a Covid exemption by the State of Victoria and Tennis Australia, which he insisted allowed him to enter the country.

Australian border force officials said permission to enter Victoria was not the same as permission to cross the international border. 

He was detained for eight hours overnight, before being transferred to the Park hotel, where he will stay until an appeal hearing on Monday.

Under Australian law, all inbound travellers over the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated to enter Australia, unless an exemption applies. They must also provide proof of vaccination status before arrival through the Australia Travel Declaration.

Boris Johnson indicates support for Australia

On Thursday, Boris Johnson indicated his support for Australia’s hardline stance on the importance of vaccinations, while declining to comment directly on the Novak Djokovic incident.

“It’s a matter for Australia and their friendly government,” the Prime Minister said when asked about it by a television reporter.

“That’s a matter for them but clearly I share very strongly their view of the Australian authorities that it’s a very good idea to get vaccinated.”

Under the UK Government’s current rules, international sportsmen who have not been jabbed can get an exemption from the rules others who are unjabbed must follow.

They have to quarantine for 10 days and take PCR tests, but can leave self-isolation to train and compete in sports matches.

The crisis has raised questions over the ability of elite athletes to bypass Covid restrictions

The next flashpoint will be this year’s Champions League and the Six Nations tournaments in Europe.

France has ordered all sports competitors to have a vaccine pass to take part in domestic competitions from January 15, but is expected to grant exceptions to allow international competitions to go ahead.

Tennis players are likely to be able to compete at the French Open in May, provided they limit their movements to hotel, shuttle bus and courts. That means Novak Djokovic may be able to play, Le Parisien reported.

Australian prime minister: ‘Rules are rules’

Mr Morrison initially brushed aside criticism of Novak Djokovic’s exemption, describing it on Wednesday as a matter for the Victorian government.

On Thursday he changed course, praising the decision to detain him in what critics described as a cynical attempt to win popularity ahead of Federal elections in spring.

“Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from Covid, we are continuing to be vigilant.”