Novak Djokovic has spoken out from inside Australian border detention to thank his family and fans for their support as he waits to hear whether he will be deported, writes dailymail.co.uk.

The Serbian tennis ace, who has been held since Wednesday after he was barred from entering the country to compete in the Australian Open, also posted a Christmas message because today is Christmas Day in the Orthodox tradition.

“Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated”, - he wrote in English underneath a post in Serbian, in which he also thanked his family and countrymen.

A second post against a background which featured an image of the birth of Christ said: “God’s peace. Christ is born. Happy Christmas. May God’s love invigorate and fulfill you all”.

Djokovic is spending his Christmas Day languishing in a “torture chamber” hotel used for immigration detainees close to Melbourne airport after his medical exemption to enter the country was torn up by border guards who said he didn’t qualify.