Novak Djokovic faces deportation after Australian visa cancelled for second time
Tennis star Novak Djokovic faces deportation again after the Australian government revoked his visa for a second time.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said on Friday that he had used his ministerial discretion to revoke the 34-year-old Serb’s visa on public interest grounds three days before the Australian Open is to begin.
The decision was taken "on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so", the minister said in a statement.
The government was "firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic", he added.
As things stand, the decision paves the way for the men's world number one — who is not vaccinated against the coronavirus — to be barred from bidding for a 10th Australian title and a record 21st Grand Slam win next week.
However, Djokovic’s lawyers are expected to appeal against the decision in the Federal Circuit and Family Court as they successfully did after the first cancellation. A car thought to be carrying the player was seen arriving at his lawyer's offices in Melbourne on Friday following the decision, AP reports.
The controversy over the player's visa, his vaccination status and his treatment by the Australian authorities has completely overshadowed the tournament in the days leading up to the event.
It is the second time Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled since he arrived in Melbourne last week to defend his Australian Open title.
His exemption from a COVID-19 vaccination requirement to compete was approved by the Victoria state government and Tennis Australia, the tournament organiser. That apparently allowed him to receive a visa to travel.
But the Australian Border Force rejected the exemption and cancelled his
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