Tennis
Novak Djokovic’s Visa Reinstated Following Australian Open Controversy
by privatebet.com - 2022/01/10
All hell broke loose when Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa was canceled after he received a medical exemption to take part in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated. After being detained for days, world no. 1 won the appeal over his canceled visa, but his Australian Open status remains unclear. The tennis champion was supposed to defend his title at the Australian Open after being granted a medical exemption from mandatory vaccination by Tennis Australia and the Department of Health of the state government of Victoria. After arriving in Melbourne, his entry was denied and he was placed at an immigration detention hotel. According to the statement by the Australian Border Force, Djokovic’s visa was canceled because he “failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia.” Djokovic awaited the court hearing at the hotel quarantine in Melbourne since Thursday, when his visa was canceled. Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reversed the decision to cancel his visa and ordered the Australian government to release Djokovic from quarantine. According to Djokovic’s lawyers, he tested positive for COVID-19 in December, granting an exemption from Australia’s vaccination rules. Novak Djokovic currently has nine Australian Open titles under his belt. If he manages to win this year, it will mark his 21 Grand Slam title, breaking the record he currently shares with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.