Australian Open: Novak Djokovic returns to the retention box, Rafael Nadal gets annoyed

This new episode in a saga that began on January 5, when Djokovic was turned away upon his arrival in Melbourne, makes it increasingly unlikely that the 34-year-old Serb will participate in the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.

The world number one tennis player, who is seeking a 10th victory in this tournament, was returned to administrative detention on Saturday after the cancellation of his visa for the second time by the Australian government the day before, and pending a decision of justice on his case, according to court documents.

The presence in Australia of Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against Covid-19, “could encourage anti-vaccination sentiment”, said the Australian authorities in a brief presented to the courts, saying that the Serb should be expelled from the country.

Friday during a hearing before a judge, the representative of the Australian government had indicated that the player would not be taken back to the border before the justice had definitively ruled on his request to block his expulsion. But he had warned that Djokovic would have to wait for this decision in administrative detention. It is the Australian federal justice which is now in charge of the case, at the request of the Melbourne judge on Friday who had been seized in the first place by the tennis player’s lawyers. This change of court is likely to slow down the procedure, estimated the defenders of Djokovic.

Djokovic has admitted to incorrectly filling in his entry declaration to Australia, and not respecting the rules of isolation after he tested positive for Covid-19 in December – a contamination which he hoped would allow him to benefit from an exemption to enter Australia without being vaccinated.

“Nole” had been turned back on his arrival in Melbourne on January 5 and placed in a detention center. But his lawyers had obtained from a judge on January 10 that he restore his visa and order his immediate release. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, using his discretion in the matter, however, once again canceled Djokovic’s visa on Friday. “on health and public order grounds”.

“The Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him”, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal told reporters on Saturday from Melbourne Park, two days before the start of this Grand Slam tournament. “The Australian Open is more important than any player.”, he added, specifying to respect Djokovic “as a person, of course, and as an athlete, no doubt.” And to detail: “I really respect him, even if I don’t agree with a lot of

things he’s been up to for the past two weeks.”