LIVE. Novak Djokovic is already on court, but no decision yet on his further stay – Lie or mistake on travel form may cause Serb to be sour | Soap about Novak Djokovic in Australia

Less fluid than a tennis match by Novak Djokovic, that court drama yesterday in Melbourne starring the world’s best tennis player. Due to the large influx the site of the Court of Appeal crashed almost immediately and also during the pleadings of Nick Wood, the lawyer for Djokovic and Christopher Tran, for the Ministry of the Interior, there were regular technical failures. Judge Anthony Kelly was quick to rule that nine-time Australian Open winner had to be removed from his quarantine hotel in order for him to watch the hearing online. Djokovic had been ‘detained’ there since Thursday morning among the asylum seekers and refugees after his visa was canceled on arrival at Melbourne airport. The unvaccinated Serb had obtained a ‘medical exception’ from Tennis Australia on December 16, based on a corona infection, but that turned out to be insufficient to be allowed into the country.

Judge Kelly listened to the defense’s arguments that the visa withdrawal was illogical and legally unreasonable. Djokovic certainly had all possible and necessary papers with him – “he received a medical exemption from a professor and qualified physician” – but was not treated according to the rules during those eight hours at Tullamarine Airport. The world star’s phone was stolen for some time and he was not given (enough) the opportunity to consult with the Australian tennis federation or his lawyers in Serbia. Djokovic repeatedly indicated during the interview that he would provide the necessary documents, if he was given the chance. The judge therefore ruled that the procedure was ‘unreasonable’, that the cancellation of his visa was annulled and that he should be released immediately.

That was not the end of the affair, however. The government still felt that Djokovic had been granted an ‘exception’ for the wrong reasons – Djokovic who willingly and without a mask on December 17, one day after his positive test, had his picture taken during some public appearances without a mask should actually be able to show that he could not be vaccinated for a medical reason – and through Immigration Secretary Hawke had the personal power to revoke the visa a second time and send Australian Open defending champions back home. In theory, Djokovic could therefore be banned from Australia for three years, but that too would depend on the judgment of the ministry.

Djokovic anxiously awaits Hawke’s verdict in his lawyers’ offices, even though the building then had a ‘no vax, no entry’ policy… When he left that building around 11 a.m. Belgian time yesterday, the gate went up. of the dam among the gathered fans of Djokovic. “Free Nole,” they shouted. The police used tear gas and through a cordon Djokovic was able to leave the site after the necessary commotion.