“I want to stay and try to compete in the Australian Open,” he told Novak Djokovic on Twitter after a judge ordered his release from the detention center he had been placed in upon his arrival in Melbourne following the cancellation of his visa.
I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen
I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans. pic.twitter.com/iJVbMfQ037– Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 10, 2022
“I remain focused” on the Open which opens in a week, he added on Instagram. “I came here to play at one of the biggest events we have had in front of wonderful fans,” he said. “Thank you for being by my side and for encouraging me to stay strong.”
A setback for Australia
In Belgrade, where his family had organized a press conference, his brother Djordje explained that “Nole” had “trained” after the judge’s decision. “Novak is free, a little while ago, he was training on the court.” “He went to Australia to play tennis, to participate in a new Australian Open and to set a new record which he pursues diligently.”
Djokovic aims to offer himself in Melbourne a 21st Grand Slam tournament which would place him at the top of tennis history, ahead of his two historic rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Australian Judge Anthony Kelly’s shock ruling is an unprecedented setback for Australia, which has imposed strict border restrictions to tackle the pandemic for two years, even though a government lawyer has warned Canberra may still decide to expel the Serbian player. “For me it’s the biggest victory of his career, bigger than any of his grand slams,” said his mother Dijana.
“Justice has finally been served, the truth has been revealed,” added the star’s brother. “We finally showed the whole world (…) that Novak is an honest man, an extraordinary man”.