Novak Djokovic Released from Immigration Detention After Australian Overturns Visa Cancellation

Novak Djokovic has won his battle in court.

On Monday morning (January 10) Australian Federal Judge Anthony Kelly ruled that the 34-year-old tennis pro be released from an immigration detention after his visa was canceled due to his COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of the upcoming 2022 Australian Open.

Click inside to read more…

“The court will order as follows: Paragraph 1, the decision of the delegate to cancel the applicant’s temporary activity subclass 048 visa made on 6 January 2022, be quashed,” Judge Kelly said during virtual hearing, via CNBC.

This means that Novak‘s visa remains valid and that he will be released from detention and given back his passport and other belongings.

Tennis stars are required to be vaccinated, or must get a medical exemption in order to play. Australia’s entry rules, however, require all documentation be in place to be let in to the country.

Novak was granted an exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement to play at the open, however, the visa he requested did not include any medical exemptions.

When he arrived in Melbourne last week, Novak was detained in an immigration facility after officials decided he did not have sufficient medial justifications for a vaccine exemption.

Now that Novak has been released from the immigration detention center, that does not mean that his battle isn’t over.

Australia’s immigration minister can still personally step in and cancel Novak‘s visa regardless on new grounds. If Minister Alex hake decides to take action, Novak could face another battle in court and potentially an up to three-year ban on playing tennis in Australia.

Novak, who had COVID-19 in June of 2020, has refused to confirm if he’s vaccinated, and this appears to be further proof that he’s not.

As of right now, Novak has not yet publicly addressed the court’s latest decision.

The 2022 Australian Open is set to begin on January 17.