Djokovic is still free, but there is still a threat of leaving Australia, according to Reuters

Sonali by Paul and Cordelia Hsu

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic switched from one court to another on Tuesday and played a number of training sessions at Melbourne Park as he warms up his bid to win his 21st major tennis record at the Australian Open next week.

A week after he arrived in Australia, Djokovic was finally sent to court at the center, following a ruling by the federal government overturning his decision to cancel his visa.

However, the world’s number one still faces a threat that the federal government will arrest and deport him a second time. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s office said it was still considering whether to use its discretion to revoke Djokovic’s visa.

“In line with the proper process, Minister Hawke will look into the matter thoroughly,” a spokesman said in an email. “Since the issue is ongoing, it is not appropriate to comment further for legal reasons.”

Australia has a policy of banning access to non-citizens or residents unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. He accepts medical exceptions, but the government argued that the uninserted Djokovic did not provide adequate justification for the exception.

The court ruled that Djokovic had been treated unfairly on arrival by border officials and ordered his visa revoked. He did not say, however, whether his exemption – based on Djokovic’s hiring of COVID-19 last month – was valid.

Djokovic’s situation has attracted international attention, sparking a political clash between Canberra and Belgrade and fueling heated debates over COVID-19 compulsory vaccination policies.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office said on Monday it had spoken with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and explained “our non-discriminatory border policy”. Serbian media have said Brnabic stressed the importance of Djokovic being able to prepare for the tournament. They both said they agreed to stay in touch on the issue.

Djokovic, in a message on Twitter (NYSE 🙂 on Monday night, thanked the referee and the decision to compete in the first championship of the year, did not publicly address the situation on Tuesday.

It was filmed by local media helicopters training at the Rod Laver Arena, amid the tight security at Melbourne Park.

John Alexander, a member of Morrison’s Liberal Party and a former professional tennis player, said a new decision to oust Djokovic would “reduce” the state of the Australian Open.

“We used to be a poor cousin of four events,” he said. “We have a lot on our side, but we have to be careful.”

The ATP, the governing body of men’s tennis, applauded the court’s ruling, saying the case was “harmful on all sides”, including preparation for Novak’s welfare and the Australian Open.

COURT

Djokovic was arrested by border officials when he landed at Melbourne airport on Wednesday night. His visa was revoked because he did not provide adequate evidence of eligibility for entry into Australia, border officials said.

However, in reversing that decision, he was criticized by referee Anthony Kelly for an hour-long interview at the airport and for not giving the player enough time to contact his lawyers and tennis officials to discuss his situation.

Djokovic was granted a medical exemption by the Victoria state government based on evidence he had contracted COVID-19 last month – the second time he was infected. The player, for a long time against the mandatory vaccination, confirmed in the interview that he was not vaccinated.

According to some Australian media, the Australian Border Force was investigating the passenger form sent by Djokovic and where he was in the days before he arrived in Australia.

In the document filed with the court, Djokovic marked “no” when he was asked to stay abroad for the previous 14 days. Social media posts, however, were shown in Belgrade on Christmas Day and in Spain on December 31st.

The Australian Border Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Djokovic’s Hall & Wilcox attorneys declined to comment.

OPEN IN AUSTRALIA

The Australian Open will start on January 17th. Djokovic has won the tournament, one of four tennis grand slams in the last three years and a total of nine times.

Spain’s Rafa Nadal, who is tied with Djokovic and Roger Federer in the top 20, described the tournament as a “circus” and said it was “the right decision”.

Nick Kyrgios said while accepting the vaccine “he felt ashamed as an Australian athlete, seeing what this guy has done for us and for the sport. I don’t think it’s right how we’re managing it.”

However, former American player Pam Shriver, a former expert, warned on Twitter that the controversy may not end: “If he plays, the impulse will be deaf.”

Australian public opinion, which is battling a wave of Omicron infection and where more than 90% of adults are double-vaccinated, has largely been against the player.

The open-air Melbourne-based resistance has been particularly vocal after the city experienced the longest cumulative blockade in the world.

“We’ve had to go through vaccination protocols and locks for a long time and he includes swans and does what he likes quite well because he’s the best tennis player in the world,” Melbourne resident Keith Moore told Reuters.