(Bloomberg) — Novak Djokovic has resumed training in Melbourne to vie for a record 21st Grand Slam victory as the tennis star waits for the Australian government to decide if it will seek to deport him for a second time.
The world mens’ No. 1 was released from detention late Monday after a judge overturned the cancellation of his visa, saying the unvaccinated player wasn’t given enough time to fully respond to border officials who denied him entry to Australia. Despite the ruling, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is considering whether to exercise his own personal power to cancel the visa again.
“In line with due process, Minister Hawke will thoroughly consider the matter,” a spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.
The federal government is also looking into a discrepancy on Djokovic’s travel declaration form that he used to enter Australia, The Age newspaper reported, without naming sources. The document incorrectly stated that he hadn’t visited any other countries in the two weeks prior to his arrival, the paper said.
Djokovic told border officials on arriving in the country that Tennis Australia had completed the form on his behalf. A spokesperson for the immigration department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A positive Covid test that Djokovic produced dating from Dec. 16 may have been registered on a later date, Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine reported, citing research among the tennis player’s documents based on a time stamp on the test and an identification number.
Judge Anthony Kelly said in his decision on Monday that Djokovic faced harm to his personal and professional reputation from the court proceedings that took place that day. He also warned that any attempt by minister Hawke to use his personal cancellation powers could mean that Djokovic wouldn’t be able to return to Australia for three years.
“I’m pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation,” Djokovic said in a tweet late Monday. “Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete at the Australian Open. I remain focused on that.”
The Association of Tennis Professionals, male players’ global governing body, echoed the judge’s comments on Tuesday, saying it was clear that Djokovic had obtained the necessary medical exemption to play in Australia. It conceded that Australians had made many sacrifices during the pandemic and still strongly recommended vaccination for all players.
“Complications in recent days related to player entry into Australia have, however, highlighted the need for clearer understanding, communication and application of the rules,” ATP said in a statement.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison even discussed the matter with Serbian leader Ana Brnabic earlier on Tuesday, The Age reported. He insisted that Australia’s travel rules weren’t discriminatory, the paper said.
The saga highlights the mismatch between federal and state policies that’s been a hallmark of Australia’s Covid-19 journey. While Victoria state granted Djokovic an exemption before he boarded a plane, federal officials overturned his visa on arrival amid a national uproar that a wealthy sports star was receiving special treatment. More than 90% of Australian adults are fully vaccinated and the country has endured some of the world’s toughest restrictions during the pandemic.
Australians who haven’t had at least two doses of vaccine are restricted from entering most indoor venues in Victoria as the state, home to Melbourne, sees to curb the spread of the omicron variant and ease pressure on hospitals. The country reported more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases for the first time in a single day on Saturday.
Airport Ordeal
Djokovic arrived in Australia late Wednesday night local time and was questioned at Melbourne Airport for hours before Border Force officials decided to cancel his visa. The player’s confusion and frustration during the interviews was apparent in a transcript released shortly after Monday’s court decision.
“I really am a little bit surprised that I am in this situation because how am I supposed to even come to Australia if I didn’t have these documents that are official documents?” Djokovic said, according to the transcript.
In a 35-page filing released on Saturday, his lawyers said the world No. 1 had received a document on Jan. 1 from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs affirming the exemption would allow him to enter the country.
“Mr. Djokovic understood that he was entitled to enter Australia and Victoria and to compete in the Australian Tennis Open,” the lawyers wrote.
In its response, the Australian ministry rejected Djokovic’s “so-called ‘medical exemption’” and said “there is no such thing as an assurance of entry by a non-citizen into Australia.”
Djokovic has previously won the Australian Open nine times. The tournament will start on Jan. 17.
(Updates with report possible test discrepancy in sixth paragraph.)
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