Pictures posted on social media by the Tennis Association of Belgrade showing a mask-less Novak Djokovic hugging children after an event on December 17 have punched holes in the tennis star’s legal defence that his Australian Open Covid-19 vaccination exemption had been granted because he had tested positive for the coronavirus on December 16.

The lawyers for the Serbian World No. 1 men’s tennis player have said the Australian government granted him a written vaccine exemption because he contracted the disease on December 16. But multiple pictures suggest Djokovic had mixed with dozens of maskless people on the same day.

A maskless Djokovic was pictured as a panelist at an indoor discussion for his charity foundation, and he shared pictures on Instagram of him receiving a stamp made in his honour the day after he, according to his lawyers, tested positive for Covid-19.

In pictures purportedly taken on December 17, the World No. 1 took part in an open PR event and was pictured hugging children at the Tennis Association of Belgrade’s event. The Tennis Federation of Serbia, in a Facebook post after the December 17 ceremony, said that Djokovic had handed over cups and awards to best young players in 2021.

It is unclear whether Djokovic knew he had Covid when the photographs of December 16 and 17 were taken.