Munmun Kaur
Published On: January 11, 2022 at 11:42 IST
Tennis star Novak Djokovic on January 10, won a Court battle to remain in the country and compete in the Australian Open.
Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly, who was hearing the tennis player’s matter reinstated his visa and ordered his release from a Melbourne quarantine hotel within 30 minutes of the decision being delivered.
Although, Government lawyer Christopher Tran told the Judge that Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke will consider whether to exercise personal power of cancellation within section 133C(3) of the Migration Act. Thus, giving a fair warning to Djokovic that there might be a possibility that he won’t be able to compete in the Australian Open which starts on January 17. It could also bar him from the country for three years.
The nine-time Australian Open winner and defending champion, wrote in a tweet- “Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen. I remain focused on that”.
Last week, after Djokovic’s arrival, he was detained on the airport and his visa was cancelled because as per the officials, he did not meet the criteria of the exemption against the strict rule of non-citizens be fully vaccinated. Later, he was detained at a Melbourne quarantine hotel, where he spent four nights while fighting his case.