Novak Djokovic's lawyers claim that the world tennis number one was granted a vaccine exemption to enter Australia because he had COVID-19 last month.

His court application also states he received government approval for quarantine-free travel ahead of the Australian Open.

The papers have revealed that the nine-time Australian Open champion contracted the virus on December 16th, and has "not had a fever or respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 72 hours".

Djokovic's legal team say he received a letter of exemption from having the vaccine, which was "provided by an Independent Expert Medical Review panel commissioned by Tennis Australia".

"The decision of that panel had been reviewed and endorsed by an independent Medical Exemptions Review Panel of the Victorian State Government".

They added that he is also in possession of an "Australian Travel Declaration" because he was told by the authorities that he "meets the requirements for a quarantine-free arrival into Australia".

Djokovic remains in a detention hotel in Melbourne - awaiting an appeal hearing on Monday against his deportation.