Novak Djokovic’s case sent to federal court after tennis star was given emergency hearing to appeal visa cancellation by immigration minister Alex Hawke
- The minister, in a statement, says it was in the public’s interest to cancel the nine-time Australian Open champion’s visa
- Unvaccinated Djokovic entered Australia last week on a medical exemption, which was rejected by border officials before the Serb successfully appealed against deportation
Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s last-gasp battle to avoid deportation and play in next week’s Australian Open was referred to the country’s federal court on Friday.
Djokovic had earned a late emergency hearing earlier in the day after Australia’s immigration minister cancelled his visa for a second time, reversing a Monday court decision that halted the federal government’s bid to deport the unvaccinated player.
Judge Anthony Kelly, of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, who quashed his deportation order on Monday, said the case would go to the federal court for a second time, with Djokovic set to be interviewed on Saturday morning.
Djokovic’s lawyer Nick Wood told Kelley he hoped an appeal would be heard on Sunday, so the world No 1 would have his visa returned in time to play in the first tennis grand slam of the 2022 season on Monday.
The 34-year-old Serbian remained free on Friday night, but would effectively return to immigration detention when he meets Australian Border Force officials on Saturday at 8am.
The Associated Press reported he would the morning under Border Force guard at his lawyers’ offices and return to the detention at the Park Hotel in Carlton, Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.