Men’s tennis world No 1 Novak Djokovic faced deportation from Australia after the cancellation of his visa was upheld by the country’s federal court. The Serbian tennis great thus misses out on his chance to defend his Australian Open title.
Djokovic was chasing a record 10th Australian Open title. (Reuters Photo)
highlighted
- Djokovic’s hopes of winning 10th Australian Open title are over
- Djokovic claimed medical exemption to play tournament without vaccination
- His visa was canceled for the first time
Men’s tennis world No 1 Novak Djokovic is set to be deported from Australia after a federal court on Sunday upheld the country’s government’s decision to revoke his visa. Djokovic, who is chasing a record 21st Grand Slam title at the 2022 Australian Open and also trying to defend his title, will no longer take part in the tournament.
A three-judge bench of the Federal Court heard arguments from public prosecutors that Djokovic’s continued presence jeopardized anti-vaccination sentiment during Australia’s worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Djokovic holds the record for most titles at the Australian Open, having won the tournament for the ninth time in 2021. He was escorted by immigration officials to his lawyers’ office to attend a virtual court hearing on Sunday morning. An immigration detention hotel.
A medical exemption that allowed Djokovic to enter the country without vaccination sparked fury in Australia, and became a political issue for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has to call a federal election before May.
Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke revoked his visa on the grounds that Djokovic’s presence in Australia could be a risk to the health and “good order” of the Australian public and “prejudicial to vaccination efforts by others in Australia”. Might be possible.”
Djokovic’s visa was initially revoked at Melbourne’s airport on January 6, hours after he arrived to compete in the first Grand Slam of 2022. A border official canceled his visa after ruling that the Serbian tennis great did not qualify for a medical exemption from Australia’s rules. illiterate visitors.
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