(Melbourne) Tennis player Novak Djokovic has won his legal battle to stay in Australia to compete in the Australian Tennis Open. But the case is far from over as the government threatens to cancel his visa a second time and deport him.
“I am happy and grateful that the judge overturned the decision to cancel my visa, reacted Djokovic on his Twitter account. Despite everything that has happened I want to stay and try to compete at @Australian Open.
“I stay focused on this. I took the plane to play one of the most important events in front of incredible spectators. ”
Federal Court Judge Anthony Kelly has reinstated Djokovic’s visa, which was revoked after his arrival last week because authorities ruled he did not qualify for exemption from the requirement that all non-citizens were to be fully immunized. Djokovic’s lawyers argue that since he recently recovered from an infection, he did not need to be vaccinated under Australian rules.
The judge ruled that the no Global 1 had not had enough time to speak to his lawyers before the decision on his visa was made and ordered the government to release him within 30 minutes from a quarantine hotel in Melbourne where he spent the last four nights.
But government attorney Christopher Tran informed the judge that the immigration minister “will consider whether to exercise personal power to override.” ”
That would mean the nine-time Australian Open winner and defending champion could be sent off again and miss the tournament, which begins on January 17. It could also prevent him from returning to the country for three years.
The case garnered attention everywhere and caused discontent in Australia, where many initially decried that Djokovic, known to be skeptical about vaccines, had been given an exemption from the strict rules to play in Melbourne. Many felt the star player, whose court documents say he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, received special treatment as Australians who are not vaccinated face travel and quarantine restrictions strict.
But when border police then arrested him on his arrival, others screamed scandal, saying he was the scapegoat for an Australian government criticized for its recent handling of the pandemic.
Speaking to Prva TV station in Belgrade, Serbia, the player’s brother Djordje Djokovic called the judge’s decision “a great defeat for the Australian authorities”.
But he added that the family have heard that his brother may still be detained, although he gave no details.
“It’s definitely politics, it was all politics,” he said.
Home Secretary Karen Andrews’ office has confirmed that Novak Djokovic has not been arrested. It is not clear where he was at the moment, although hundreds of spectators gathered outside his lawyer’s office in Melbourne on Monday evening, many wearing Serbian flags and the colors red, white and blue of Serbia. They chanted ” Free Nole (“Free Nole”, the star’s nickname). Police then dispersed them when they surrounded a car trying to leave the area.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal called the controversy a “circus” and said he supported the decision to allow his rival to play in the next tournament.
“Beyond agreeing or disagreeing with Djokovic on certain things, there is no doubt that justice has spoken and said that he has the right to participate in the Australian Open,” said Nadal, Monday, in an interview with Spanish radio Onda Cero.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times, including in each of the past three years. In men’s singles, he holds 20 Grand Slam titles in his career, which places him tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.