In a green tracksuit and with a white face mask, Novak Djokovic sat in the back seat of a car, cameras pointed at him. Shortly before the start of the Monday (01/17/22) beginning Grand Slam-Tournament in Melbourne the Serbian top star came back into custody in his entry drama and waited in the deportation hotel for the probably decisive court hearing. There are still pictures that resemble a crime thriller and have nothing to do with sporting successes, as the 34-year-old Serb in Australia would actually wish for. His competitors are increasingly annoyed by the entry drama of the defending champion as the dominant topic.
Hearing ended – judges advise
On Sunday there should now be clarity as to whether Djokovic will compete at the Australian Open a day later or whether he has to leave the country again. In the court session in Australia, the judges retired early Sunday afternoon (local time) to make a decision. Three judges of the federal court decide whether the world number one can stay in the country and take part in the Australian Open, which begins on Monday in Melbourne, or whether he has to leave the country. The 34-year-old defending champion Djokovic had appealed after his visa was withdrawn again.
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. 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.
Hearing before three judges
Djokovic’s visa was declared invalid twice, and his lawyers took action twice. As the Australian news agency AAP reported, after a decision by the three judges, no appeals can be lodged against the verdict.
After the authorities refused entry to the unvaccinated Djokovic last week, he spent several nights in the park hotel in the Melbourne area carlton spent. The first court decision last Monday was in his favour, Djokovic then had to prepare for the first Grand Slam-Tournament of the season continued.
Fear of “anti-vaccination sentiment”
As of Friday, his visa was in a personal decision by the Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke been declared invalid a second time. The Australian government argued, according to court documents, that the unvaccinated tennis pro’s presence in the country could encourage “anti-vaccination sentiment”. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke justified the cancellation of Djokovic’s visa on health grounds.