The Australian Open starts on Monday. Now – one day before the start – the verdict in the case of Novak Djokovic (34) has fallen!
Judge James Allsop announced: He must leave Australia. The decision of the three judges at the federal court was unanimous. In addition, Djokovic has to pay all legal costs.
Allsop led the hearing, joined by fellow judges Anthony Besanko and David O’Callaghan. The trio did not sit in one room, but was connected separately to the online negotiation. Djokovic was not to be seen at all.
Allsop made it clear right from the start that he wanted to be done by lunchtime. Of course he couldn’t. After a one-hour break, we continued at 1:30 p.m. local time.
Photo: MICHAEL ERREY/AFP
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The main point of contention was whether it would be beneficial for the anti-vaccination movement if Djokovic was allowed to stay. The government thinks so. The Serb’s lawyers believe that could also be the case if their client were deported. For hours both sides exchanged their more or less strong arguments.
Djokovic was taken from the Park Hotel, the deportation hotel in Melbourne, to his lawyers’ office that morning: blue Lacoste sweater, tired look, he doesn’t seem to have had a good night. He could have testified at the trial, but declined.
The background
The visa problem surrounding the unvaccinated Novak Djokovic (34) has kept the world in suspense over the past week.
What happened?
Djokovic wants to travel to Australia for the Australian Open. Problem: he is not vaccinated against Corona! That is why the Serb is applying for a special permit. But when he wants to enter the country, the authorities at the border turn him away. The 20-time Grand Slam winner then spent several nights in an Australian deportation hotel.
The first court decision last Monday was in his favour. Djokovic is allowed to enter the country and then continues to prepare for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.
Then on Friday there was another turning point: “Djoker’s” visa was declared invalid a second time. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke (44) initially justified the repeal with health reasons.
After that, according to court documents, the Australian government tightened the tone. The unvaccinated tennis pro’s stay in the country could promote “anti-vaccination sentiment”.
In the meantime, Djokovic has become entangled in contradictory statements several times. According to his own statement, he tested positive for Corona on December 16, 2021. On December 18, the tennis pro gave an interview to a “L’Équipe” reporter – all people who tested positive in Serbia had to be quarantined immediately.
It is a veritable farce, which has now reached its climax in this judgment.
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