Australian Authorities Cancel Tennis Star Novak Djokovic's Visa. He Is Set to Be Deported

There are virtually no chances that the tennis player will take part in the Australian Open.

The Australian visa of tennis player Novak Djokovic has been cancelled again. The country's authorities are planning to deport him. 

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said the decision was made “in the public interest”. There are virtually no chances that the tennis player will take part in the Australian Open, which he has won nine times. 

If the decision to cancel the visa cannot be challenged, Djokovic also faces a three-year ban on entering Australia. 

As a reminder, in early January Novak Djokovic flew to Australia to take part in the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament. The tennis player was granted an Australian visa under special conditions, even though he had not completed the full course of coronavirus vaccination, which is required to enter Australia. 

Djokovic's lawyers said that on December 16 the athlete tested positive for coronavirus. According to them, it was on the basis of this previous illness that Djokovic was exceptionally allowed to receive an Australian visa without a vaccination certificate, and the Australian Open organizers agreed to his participation in the tournament. 

Earlier it was reported that the athlete had received a medical exemption from vaccination from two independent committees to take part in the Australian Open tennis championship, but the reason was not disclosed. 

BBC noted that on December 17 (the day after he tested positive for coronavirus), Djokovic posted photos on Twitter from the presentation of a personalized stamp issued by Serbia Post. In the photos he is not wearing a mask. It is currently unknown whether he was aware of the positive coronavirus test at that moment. 

The documents that Djokovic's lawyers submitted to the court also point to errors made by immigration officers who refused the tennis player entry into the country on January 6. 

The lawyers also asked to move Novak from the refugee hotel to a “more suitable place” so that the athlete could prepare for the Australian Open. The Australian Open tennis tournament, which Djokovic flew in for, begins on January 17. 

As a reminder, the athlete had previously spoken publicly against forced coronavirus vaccination and refused to say whether he had been vaccinated himself.

On January 10 it became known that an Australian court overturned the decision to cancel the tennis player's visa.

Judge Anthony Kelly also ordered that Djokovic be released, that his passport be returned to him, and that his court costs be compensated. Prosecutors had intended to appeal the court's decision. 

After the court allowed the athlete to enter Australia, he held his first training session. 

Djokovic posted a photo from the training session on his Instagram and wrote that he is “very happy and grateful” to the court. The tennis player stressed that he is focused on his upcoming performance at the Australian Open. 

Novak Djokovic
tennis player

I flew here to play one of the important tournaments in front of amazing fans. For now I can only say “thank you” for being nearby and giving me strength. 

At around the same time, Djokovic's family held a press conference. Members of the tennis player's family noted that he “stands for freedom of choice” and called what had happened to him a “violation of human rights”. 

However, they refused to answer questions about why Novak attended public events shortly after he tested positive for coronavirus.