Djokovic history bid still hangs in balance

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic trained at the Australian Open venue Tuesday in search of a record 21st Grand Slam, but his dream hung in the balance as the government pondered canceling his visa, again.

The world No 1 had scored a stunning courtroom victory the day before, overturning the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa on COVID-19 vaccination grounds.

The unvaccinated 34-year-old Serbian ace now says he is determined to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.

"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," Djokovic said on Instagram Monday.

His uncertain status didn't stop Australian Open organizers from listing him as the top seed for the tournament on Tuesday.

Wearing a T-shirt and shorts, Djokovic limbered up in a gym Tuesday accompanied by coach Goran Ivanisevic before going into the players' area and heading for the center court at Melbourne Park, two AFP journalists reported.

Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, jetted into the country a week ago carrying a medical exemption from vaccination due to a positive coronavirus test on Dec 16 last year.

After overnight questioning at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, border officials decided the exemption was not valid, canceled his visa and transferred him to a detention center pending deportation.

"I am not vaccinated," Djokovic had told the border official, according to a transcript released by the court.

He expressed bewilderment that the exemption, approved by two medical panels in Australia, was not being accepted.

The limited number of foreigners allowed into Australia must be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption. The government insists that a recent infection does not count as an exemption.

Federal judge Anthony Kelly reversed the visa decision Monday, ordering the cancellation be "quashed", that the player be released from detention, and that the government pay his legal costs.

The government conceded that Djokovic's airport interview was "unreasonable" because he had not been given the promised time to respond before his visa was torn up.

'Justice came to light'

It was "the biggest victory in his career, bigger than all his Grand Slams", his mother Dijana said at a news conference in Belgrade.

"Truth and justice came to the light. I would like to thank the justice system of Australia," said his brother Djordje in Belgrade.

Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's office said the judge had ruled on a "procedural ground".

"It remains within immigration minister Hawke's discretion to consider canceling Mr Djokovic's visa under his personal power of cancellation," his office said in a statement.

"The minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing."

The ATP said the affair had been "damaging on all fronts, including for Novak's well-being and preparation for the Australian Open".

The top tennis body said it respected the "sacrifices" of Australians, who have endured travel restrictions and rolling lockdowns for two years.

But it added: "In traveling to Melbourne, it's clear Novak Djokovic believed he had been granted a necessary medical exemption."

'Let him play'

Rafael Nadal, one of Djokovic's main rivals for the title, said "it is the fairest thing" for the Serb to play in the Australian Open.

"Regardless of whether or not I agree on some things with Djokovic, without any doubt, justice has spoken," Nadal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

Former player turned commentator Patrick McEnroe said on Twitter: "I believe the judge made correct ruling in this case. Now Novak will have more questions to answer regarding his positive COVID test & subsequent public appearances. The plot just thickens…& thickens!!"

Women's tennis great Martina Navratilova said on social media: "Though I disagree with not getting vaccinated; at the end of the day it seems Novak did play by the rules as they were for the exemption and was burned. Let him play."

AFP