Tennis

The judge inquires as to what else Djokovic may have done to obtain a visa.

Australian judge deciding whether or not top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic would compete in the Australian Open

On Monday, an Australian judge deciding whether or not top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic would compete in the Australian Open questioned what more the Serbian could have done to meet Australia’s coronavirus admission standards.

In Australia’s Federal Circuit and Family Court, the 34-year-old is contesting deportation and the cancellation of his visa.

His visa was revoked by the Australian government immediately after he arrived in Melbourne late Wednesday, after officials determined he didn’t fulfill the threshold for an exemption from the requirement that all non-citizens be completely vaccinated against COVID-19.

Djokovic, who according to court documents is unvaccinated, maintained that he did not need proof of vaccination because he had indications of coronavirus infection last month.

People who have been infected with COVID-19 within the last six months are eligible for a temporary exemption from the vaccination requirement, according to Australian medical officials.

Djokovic had given officials at Melbourne’s airport a medical exemption granted by Tennis Australia, which is organizing the tournament that begins on Jan. 17, as well as two medical panels, according to Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly.

“The point that has me agitated is what else could this man have done?” Nick Wood, Djokovic’s lawyer, was questioned by Kelly.

Djokovic could not have done much more, Wood agreed with the judge.

Djokovic’s affidavit and transcripts of his interview with Border Force officials revealed a “repeated appeal to the officers with whom he was dealing that to his understanding, uncontradicted, he had done absolutely everything that he understood was required in order for him to enter Australia,” according to Wood.

Since his visa was revoked on Thursday, Djokovic has been held in hotel quarantine in Melbourne.

During his court hearing, however, the judge ordered that the world No. 1 tennis player be removed from hotel quarantine. During Djokovic’s hearing, it was unclear where he went. During the first few hours of the virtual hearing, he did not appear on screen.

Lawyers for Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews will make their case for Djokovic’s deportation later Monday.

Djokovic’s lawyers filed 11 reasons for appeal against the cancellation of his visa.

The cancellation was called “extremely illogical,” “irrational,” and “legally unacceptable” by the lawyers.

Because of the large number of people trying to witness the proceedings from all over the world, the virtual hearing collapsed many times.

Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times. He shares the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

 

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