The Australian authorities have canceled the entry visa of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, the world number one, for the second time and will proceed with his deportation due to his failure to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as announced by the Immigration Minister on Friday. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke stated in a press release, "Today, I have exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr. Novak Djokovic on the grounds of health and good order, with the belief that it is in the public interest to do so."
This decision means that Djokovic will be barred from obtaining a visa to enter Australia for three years, except under exceptional circumstances. Hawke mentioned that Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government "is firmly committed to protecting Australia's borders, particularly concerning the COVID-19 pandemic."
Close sources indicated that the Serbian player is considering his options following this decision. Djokovic, who was aiming to win the Australian Open for the tenth time in his career and to set the record for the most Grand Slam titles (21), now finds his ambitions in jeopardy.
Djokovic arrived in Australia on January 5, having secured a medical exemption due to a COVID-19 infection on December 16 of the previous month. However, authorities denied him entry, stating that the reasons for his exemption as an unvaccinated player did not meet the strict criteria imposed for entering the country in the fight against COVID-19, resulting in the rejection of his visa and his transfer to a Melbourne detention center.
The Serbian star appealed the decision successfully, leading a federal judge to order his immediate release, which occurred, and he subsequently trained on the main court for the Australian Open in recent days. However, his participation was pending awaiting the decision from the Immigration Minister, which has been made today.
