Novak Djokovic wins visa appeal in Australian court, likely to play record in Australian Open

A judge in Melbourne, Australia, sided with Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic on Monday and ordered the government to release him from immigration detention and reinstate his visa to play at the Australian Open next week. Australian Government Djokovic’s visa revoked when he arrived at Melbourne airport on Wednesday, citing he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, and he was held at a Melbourne hotel where asylum seekers were staying.

After Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly ruled against Djokovic against the Australian Department of Home Affairs, government lawyer Chris Tran told the judge that a separate Cabinet official, the Minister of Citizenship, Migration and Multiculturalism Service Alex Hawke, “will consider whether to exercise personal power. on the cancellation” of Djokovic’s visa. If Hawke decides to step in, Kelly notes, the number 1 male tennis player will be banned from competing in Australia for 3 years, not only at the Australian Open.

If Djokovic were allowed to stay in Australia and win his 10th Australian Open, he would also break the record for most Grand Slam singles titles – he 20 . available, along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The legal argument for Djokovic’s entry to Australia is whether he has a legal medical exemption from the country’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement. His lawyers argued he was entitled to immunity because he contracted the virus in December, but the government said there was no evidence that Djokovic infection resulted in “severe acute illness.” “, as required.

Judge Kelly sided with Djokovic’s lawyer in arguing that the tennis star checked all the boxes he could reasonably expect before arriving in Melbourne. “The point I’m a bit worried about is what more can this man do?” Kelly asked. He also expressed displeasure with the government’s treatment of Djokovic.

“The famous case has garnered international headlines” and “turned the unvaccinated sports star – already a prominent skeptic of a coronavirus vaccine – into a lightning rod for debate.” universal vaccination”. washington articles report. “Over the past several days, the hotel where Djokovic is being held has become a magnet for a diverse range of protesters, including fellow Serbs, tennis fans, anti-vaccination activists and others. immigration advocates hoping to use the limelight to focus attention on asylum seekers.”