MELBOURNE: Tennis star Novak Djokovic was set to be deported from Australia after a court on Sunday dismissed his appeal against the government’s cancellation of his visa on the grounds that his decision not to be vaccinated posed a risk to the country.
The decision has ended his hopes of defending his Australian Open title and winning a record 21st Grand Slam. Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” but respected the ruling, made on the eve of his first match.
“I will co-operate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” he said in a statement. His supporters fell silent outside the courtroom as the decision was announced.
Djokovic launched the case after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his ministerial powers to cancel the Serbian player’s visa, arguing that his presence in the country risked fanning anti-vaccine sentiment.
It was the second time his visa had been revoked, after a first cancellation over not following Covid entry rules was overturned by a different judge.
The Serbian champion was escorted to his lawyers office by immigration officials to attend the virtual court hearing on Sunday morning, having spent Saturday night back in an immigration detention hotel.
In a few dry words, the chief justice of Australia’s Federal Court today (Sunday), James Allsop, dispensed with the unvaccinated tennis superstar’s attempt to reinstate his cancelled visa.
“The orders of the court are that the amended application be dismissed with costs”, Allsop said announcing the unanimous decision, on the eve of the first matches at the Australian Open. The full reasoning behind the decision would be released in the coming days, he said.
The verdict brings to a climax a rollercoaster 10 days during which the world’s top tennis player was detained by immigration authorities, released and then detained again ahead of a tournament that starts on Monday.
Djokovic had been granted a visa to enter Australia, with a COVID-19 infection on December 16 providing the basis a medical exemption from Australia’s vaccination requirements to play in the Open. The exemption was organised through Tennis Australia.
That exemption prompted widespread anger in Australia, which has undergone some the world’s toughest COVID-19 lockdowns and where more than 90% of adults are vaccinated, and the government said recent infection alone did not meet its standards for an exemption.
Djokovic will be replaced on Monday by Italy’s Salvatore Caruso, who is ranked 150th in the world, in his match against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
