Tennis
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open Future in Jeopardy After Another Visa Cancelation
by privatebet.com - 2022/01/15
It seemed Novak Djokovic would compete at the Australian Open after his visa was reinstated on Monday, but it has been just canceled for the second time. Djokovic’s legal team is expected to appeal the decisions, but his future at the tournament remains in jeopardy. Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, exercised his ministerial powers to cancel the tennis champion’s visa, on the grounds of "health and good order". He described Djokovic as a negligible risk to those around him due to his anti-vaccination stance. “I consider that Mr Djokovic’s ongoing presence in Australia may lead to an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment generated in the Australian community, potentially leading to an increase in civil unrest,” explained Hawke. Djokovic’s Australian Open future is plagued with uncertainty after the latest visa cancelation, but he's determined to take part in the tournament. His lawyers launched an appeal against Hawke’s decision, calling it “illogical” and “irrational” and claiming it was more to do with anti-vaccination concerns than the public interest. Djokovic now faces deportation and a possible three-year visa ban. His legal team will have a chance to defend him at a hearing on January 16 – one day before he’s set to face the fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on the first day of the Australian Open.