Sunday 16 January 2022
updates
Tennis star loses in court
Djokovic has to leave Australia
The dispute over Novak Djokovic is over: the tennis star’s visa for Australia remains cancelled. The Serb has to leave the country and is not allowed to compete at the Australian Open. A federal court will decide. Djokovic reacts disappointed.
Novak Djokovic is not allowed to take part in the Australian Open and has to leave the country. As the federal court in Australia ruled, the appeal of the Serbian tennis pro against his denied entry and the annulment of the visa was rejected. The Melbourne court said the decision by Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke would be upheld.
The decision was unanimous, according to the announcement by the three judges James Allsop, Anthony Besanko and David O’Callaghan. The reason should be given on Monday at the earliest. Djokovic was also sentenced to pay the government’s legal costs. Neither side can appeal the judgment before the federal court. According to a report by the AAP news agency, an appeal to the High Court, Australia’s highest court, is possible. But the chances of success are slim.
In a statement, Djokovic announced that he would respect the court’s judgment and “cooperate with the responsible authorities with regard to my departure”. He was “very disappointed” and he was “uncomfortable that the focus has been on me in the last few weeks”. He hopes everyone can now focus on the game and the tournament “which I love”. He will “take some time to rest and recover before making any further comments.”
The decision makes it clear that 34-year-old Djokovic will not be able to defend his title at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne. His goal was to become the sole record holder in front of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with the 21st title in a Grand Slam tournament.
Djokovic follows decision in his lawyers’ office
The meeting started around 9:30 a.m. (local time). The decision was announced shortly before 6 p.m. local time. As reported by AAP, Djokovic had followed the meeting from his lawyers’ office in Melbourne. The record winner of the Australian Open spent the night before the hearing in the federal court in a deportation hotel.
The final negotiation was preceded by a hanging game that lasted for days. On Friday his visa was invalidated a second time in a personal decision by Immigration Secretary Hawke. The world number one is not vaccinated against the corona virus and is therefore a controversial person in the country, which has set tough rules since the beginning of the pandemic.
When the authorities refused him entry on January 5, he was temporarily taken to a deportation hotel. An initial court decision on Monday was in his favour, Djokovic then continued preparing for the Australian Open.
Instead of Djokovic, a lucky loser will now compete in the tournament, i.e. a player who actually lost in the qualification. According to ATP, this is the Italian Salvatore Caruso, who is listed at number 150. He should then play against Djokovic’s compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round duel on Monday.
The matter has long since become a political issue. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic made serious allegations against the Australian authorities. The Australian government, in turn, is concerned about the resentment that Djokovic’s entry has triggered among many citizens after they have suffered from long corona lockdowns and strict entry restrictions in recent months.