World tennis number one Novak Djokovic appealed his deportation from Australia on Thursday after border authorities revoked his visa for failing to present vaccination requirements to enter the country.
The Serb was made available to the Australian border patrol after arriving Wednesday night, and is being held at a Melbourne immigration facility.
Court sources indicated that Judge Anthony Kelly would hear Djokovic’s appeal against deportation in the afternoon local time.
Djokovic went on to participate in the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, but did not provide evidence of being fully vaccinated upon landing, Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
“The rules are the rules, especially when it comes to our borders (…) No one is above the rules,” Morrison said at a press conference.
The Australian border authorities canceled Novak Djokovic’s entry visa, hours after the world number 1 was withheld upon his arrival in Melbourne, a fact that was considered as “mistreatment” by the Serbian president.
If finally deported, the Serbian tennis player would be left without the possibility of playing, as of January 17, the Australian Open, where he was looking for his 10th title and breaking the record of 20 Grand Slams that he now shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal .
The Serbian, who in the past was reluctant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and has repeatedly refused to confirm whether he was inoculated, had obtained a “medical derogation” to be able to participate in the first Grand Slam of the season.
This provoked the rejection of the press, the population and even the Australian political class, who accused those responsible for treating the Serbian in favor.
– Without proving the cause of the repeal –
“Mr. Djokovic did not provide adequate evidence to meet Australia entry requirements and his visa was canceled,” the Australian Border Force announced in a statement.
“Non-citizens who do not have a valid entry visa or whose visa has been canceled will be detained and expelled from Australia,” added border authorities.
All Australian Open participants must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an exemption granted by two independent expert committees.
In statements to the Australian channel Channel Nine, the head of the tournament, Craig Tiley, assured that 26 people of the almost 3,000 players and technical personnel who traveled to Australia for the competition had requested a repeal, but only a handful got it.
Tiley said Djokovic received “no special favors” and urged him to reveal the reason for his medical leave. “It would be really helpful if Novak explains the conditions for which he has requested and obtained a medical exemption,” he said.
One of the conditions that allowed entry without vaccination is that the applicant had had covid-19 in the last six months. It is not clear that this is the case for Djokovic.
– Outrage in Serbia –
Shortly before knowing the cancellation of Djokovic’s visa, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused the Australian authorities of “mistreating” the number one in world tennis.
“All of Serbia is with him and our authorities are studying all measures so that this mistreatment of the best tennis player in the world ends as soon as possible,” he said in a message on Instagram.
The tennis player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, asked on the same social network for a hero’s own reception upon his return to Serbia. “Our pride, our Novak is making a comeback … we should all give him the welcome he deserves!” He wrote.
He previously assured that they were in “a fight for freedom in the world, it is not just a fight for Novak.”
Interior Minister Karen Andrews said the government was not planning to offer “any apology” for protecting the border.
The decision to allow Djokovic’s entry had sparked outrage in Australia, whose residents have been subjected to significant border restrictions, lockdowns and closures for much of the past two years.
Djokovic voiced his opposition to the coronavirus vaccine in April 2020, when it was raised that it might be mandatory to resume tournaments.
“Personally I am not provaccine”, declared then Djokovic. “I don’t want someone to force me to be vaccinated in order to travel.”
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