Novak Djokovic is holed up in a detention hotel in Melbourne after being told he does not qualify for a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open 

Serbian tennis star is appealing the decision, with case due in court on Monday 

Leaked letter shows Tennis Australia told players that a prior Covid infection would get them across the border, heaping pressure on boss Craig Tiley

Fiasco deepened today as Czech athlete also had her visa ripped up by guards 

A leaked letter has revealed that unvaccinated tennis players were told they could attend the Australian Open provided they had Covid within the last six months - piling pressure on Tennis Australia bosses over the Novak Djokovic border debacle. 

Guidance sent to players in early December and now leaked to the press lays out reasons that athletes can qualify for a 'medical exemption' to enter Australia, saying that 'recently recovered cases' will be allowed into the country.

To qualify, players were told to provide a Covid-positive PCR test dated after July 31 along with antibody tests proving natural immunity 'if available'. The leak will heap pressure on Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley to prove what he was told and when, and why exactly that guidance was issued.