Djokovic, a winner on any ‘court’

Novak Djokovic. Pic/AFP

World tennis No.1 Novak Djokovic won a stunning victory over the Australian government Monday, overturning the cancellation of his visa and ending five days of detention.

In an emergency online court hearing, the judge ordered that the decision to cancel Djokovic's visa over his Covid-19 vaccination status "be quashed".

He instructed that the unvaccinated tennis superstar "be released immediately and forthwith from immigration detention".

It was an extraordinary setback for Australia's conservative government, which has imposed strict border restrictions for the past two years to halt the spread of Covid.

Several hundred fans dressed in the Serbian national colours thronged to the Melbourne law offices where Djokovic had watched his successful appeal, dancing and chanting his nickname "Nole".

Police later used pepper spray to disperse fans who mobbed a luxury car leaving the offices. His lawyers and police left the scene shortly afterwards. Djokovic, 34, had arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday ahead of the Australian Open, which starts in one week, hoping to win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title. But the tournament may yet be out of reach. The government's lawyer told the court that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may decide to use his "personal power of cancellation" despite the player's legal victory.

Back to training

Djokovic was back on the court training, his brother said on Monday. "Novak is free. A little while ago he was training on the court. He went to Australia to play tennis, to play another Australian Open and set another record," his brother Djordje said in Belgrade.

After touching down in Australia, Djokovic was taken into an overnight interview with border agents, who decided the champion had failed to present a solid medical reason for not being jabbed.

Djokovic's visa was revoked and he was moved to a notorious immigration detention facility pending deportation. He spent four nights in the former Park Hotel, a five-storey facility that holds about 32 migrants trapped in Australia's hardline immigration system. An early plea by Djokovic to be moved to a facility where he can train for the Australian Open had fallen on deaf ears, his lawyers said.

The court's finding said the government had conceded that its actions were "unreasonable" because the player was not given the chance to reply fully before his visa was torn up.

Biggest victory: Mom

Djokovic's mother Dijana called the decision by a judge the biggest victory of her son's career. "This is the biggest victory in his career, bigger than all his grand slams," she said in Belgrade.

Tweet talk

Novak Djokovic@DjokerNole:
I'm pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen. I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans. For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong

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