Novak Djokovic ended an extraordinary day in Melbourne with his Australian Open dreams revived – for now – after winning an appeal against his visa cancellation. But his battle to stay in the country may yet have another twist in the tale, with the Australian government threatening to revoke his entry visa for a second time.
The circumstances have left the the world’s No 1 men’s tennis player, who spent four days in an immigration detention centre after his medical exemption from strict coronavirus vaccination rules was denied by border officials, in limbo days before he is due to begin the defence of his title next Monday.
A remarkable 24 hours also saw Djokovic’s fans pepper-sprayed by police as they celebrated his release in Melbourne, his mother claim that her son had been “tortured” while in custody, and his father appeal to Queen Elizabeth to put pressure on the Australian government.
However shortly after emerging from his lawyers’ offices a free man when a judge quashed the decision to deny his entry to Australia, Djokovic insisted that he wanted to focus purely on his tennis in the coming days.
“I’m pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation,” he wrote alongside a photo of himself and his team on court at the Rod Laver Arena, where he has won a record nine men’s singles titles. “Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete at the Australian Open.”
“I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.”
It is unlikely to be that straightforward. Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, is still considering revoking Djokovic’s visa using powers granted to him by Australia’s Migration Act. A spokesman for Mr Hawke said the decision was an “ongoing process” and a decision is expected in the next 48 hours.