Dhe Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has lost the fight against his deportation from Australia. A day before the start of the Australian Open, a federal court in Melbourne on Sunday rejected Djokovic’s appeal against the withdrawal of his visa.
The Australian government had withdrawn the visa from the 34-year-old Serb because he had entered the country at the beginning of January without a corona vaccination. Defending champion Djokovic had appealed after his visa was withdrawn again.
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. 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.
The previous hearing was broadcast online. As the Australian news agency AAP reports, Djokovic 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.
First, the lawyers of the 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner presented their line of argument. Among other things, they raised the question of whether Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke had not considered whether “anti-vaccination sentiment” would also be fueled if the tennis pro’s visa was declared invalid. The Australian government had given the reason why Hawke had again declared Djokovic’s visa invalid that the stay could promote “anti-vaccination sentiment”. The government side argued that Djokovic could be a role model for vaccine skeptics.
When Djokovic’s visa was revoked again on Friday, the Australian government referred to its executive powers. This makes the decision more difficult to challenge in court. With the cancellation of his visa, the tennis star faces deportation as well as a three-year entry ban in Australia.
The case had also caused tensions internationally. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic got involved in the dispute again on Friday. He accused the Australian authorities of “harassing” Djokovic. “Novak, we are by your side!” The head of state assured in a post on the online network Instagram.
8.52: Djokovic comments
“I am extremely disappointed with the decision,” said Novak Djokovic after the Federal Court’s decision. “I’m uncomfortable that I’ve been the focus of the past few weeks and I hope we can all focus on the game and the tournament I love,” said Djokovic. He will now take some time to recover before making any further comments.
7.57 a.m .: Djokovic is not allowed to stay in Australia
The Federal Court announces the decision: Djokovic’s appeal against his denied entry and the annulment of the visa is rejected. 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. 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.
6.43 a.m .: Djokovic – in case of victory in court – in the night session
Should Novak Djokovic succeed in court in Australia against having his visa canceled again, the defending champion would compete at the Australian Open on Monday evening. This emerges from the schedule that the organizers of the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne announced on Sunday before the court ruling in the Serbian tennis professional’s visa case. Djokovic would meet his compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic in the second game of the night session (2nd game after 7 a.m. German time) in the Rod Laver Arena.
4:46 a.m. Session concluded
The court session is over. The three judges will now confer and make their decision on the case. It was not immediately known when the verdict would be pronounced. Presiding judge James Allsop said the afternoon will be spent deliberating on the case and hope to reach a decision on Sunday. According to Australian broadcaster ABC News, Allsop said the court could reconvene “this afternoon or maybe tomorrow morning”.
3:38 a.m.: The session resumes
The break is over.
2:50 a.m.: Court adjourned for recess
The court session was adjourned after about three hours. Before the federal court, the judges and lawyers involved for Djokovic and the Australian government in Australia took a break at 12.30 p.m. local time. The meeting will be adjourned for an hour. Most recently, the Australian government had the floor, which should continue its remarks after the interruption.
As the Australian news agency AAP reports, Djokovic is following the meeting from his lawyers’ office in Melbourne.
2.04 a.m.: Djokovic’s lawyer criticizes ministers
Novak Djokovic’s lawyer, Nick Wood, has criticized a point in court documents regarding allegations by Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, according to ABC News. It says: “I have not asked Mr Djokovic about his current attitude towards vaccinations.” Wood complained that Hawke had instead relied on press reports. The wording also suggests that Hawke considered asking Djokovic, but then decided against it. The minister therefore accepted that he did not know the tennis star’s current attitude towards vaccinations.
1.10 a.m .: Djokovic’s lawyer firmly rejects the allegations
Novak Djokovic’s lawyer, Nick Wood, has firmly rejected the Australian government’s allegations in court. This is reported by the Australian broadcaster ABC News. There is “not a single piece of evidence” that Djokovic’s presence could promote “anti-vaccination sentiment” in Australia, as Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had said. Instead, Wood said Djokovic’s deportation could incite anti-vaccination opponents.
There is “no evidence that anti-vaccination sentiment is being encouraged by the option that the minister has not pursued, namely simply letting my client play tennis for two weeks,” the station quoted the lawyer as saying.
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