Serbian tennis star, Novak Djokovic was handed some hope in playing at this year’s Australian Open after the Australian government overturned the cancellation of his visa as well as ending his detention on Monday, January 10.
Djokovic was recently detained at the immigration detention centre after he was denied entry into Australia and his visa was revoked regarding the controversy surrounding his vaccination status. The 34-year-old Djokovic was granted an exemption from vaccination rules.
According to the rules, it is mandatory for all players and staff at the tournament to be vaccinated or has an exemption granted by an expert independent panel.
Moments after the world’s number one male tennis player was released from the immigration detention centre, unconfirmed reports emerged from Australia suggesting that he has been arrested by Australian authorities, however, it was later confirmed that Djokovic has not been arrested but a heavy police presence is reportedly seen outside his lawyers’ offices.
Novak Djokovic has not been arrested
Reports of his arrest inaccurate, according to the Australian government and tennis sources
The Immigration Minister is still deciding whether to re-cancel his visa @theage https://t.co/XzX4JVJE38
— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 10, 2022
Also read: Novak Djokovic denied entry into Australia following vaccination status
Earlier on Monday morning Judge Anthony Kelly indicated that the Serbian star had indeed received a medical exemption from COVID-19 before he made the journey to Australia. Kelly said Djokovic presented substantial evidence to authorities when he landed in Melbourne on Thursday, IOL reports.
However, after Kelly’s decision, Australian authorities further mentioned that there is no guarantee that non-Australian citizens will be allowed entry into the country and also expressed that it still has the right to detain Djokovic again and deport him.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, confirmed to Serbian media, that Djokovic has been moved to the Park Hotel and that the Serbian government are fully cooperating with the Australian authorities so that Djokovic can enter Melbourne and feature at the Australian Open 2022.
More details to follow.
Also read:
“Rules are rules” or is Djokovic being used to make a political statement?
Picture: Twitter/@elgauchoviral