The standoff between Novak Djokovic and the Australian government authorities is over. The world number 1 didn’t have the last laugh and he was forced to go home today.
• Read also: Serbia fumes over ‘outrageous’ Djokovic expulsion from Australia
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Djokovic and his lawyers were unable to convince the judges at the last hearing. His visa was not renewed and he was deported a few hours later.
Screenshot, AFP
An image from an Australian TV station showing Novak Djokovic (background) at Melbourne Airport preparing to leave Australia today.
Escorted through the corridors of Melbourne airport by the Australian federal police, Djokovic boarded a plane bound for Dubai, noted an AFP journalist on board this flight. However, its final destination is not known.
Djokovic, who was looking for a 10e major title in Melbourne, therefore left Australian soil at the end of a saga that lasted 11 days. During this period, the legend’s vaccination situation gave rise to a series of twists and turns.
Disappointed joker
Three judges of the Federal Court of Australia today sealed the fate of ‘Djoko’, rejecting his appeal against the cancellation of his visa and his expulsion from the country.
“The Court orders that the action be dismissed at the plaintiff’s expense,” President of the Court James Allsop said simply.
“I am extremely disappointed,” Djokovic reacted in a statement.
“I will now take time to rest and recover,” said the player who may not return to Australia for a period of three years due to the cancellation of his visa.
Before the Court, his lawyers described the detention of their client and his expulsion as “illogical” and “irrational” and “unreasonable”. Without convincing the three judges of the Federal Court who rejected the appeal unanimously.
A long battle
In his conclusions filed on Saturday before this same court, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke argued that Djokovic’s presence in Australia was “likely to represent a health risk”.
He said it encouraged “anti-vaccination sentiment” and could deter Australians from getting their booster shots, as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the country.
Djokovic had been blocked on his arrival in Australia on January 5 and placed in administrative detention.
The player, who contracted COVID-19 in December, was hoping for an exemption to enter the country without being vaccinated. The authorities did not accept this explanation.
The Australian government suffered a humiliating setback on January 10 when a judge blocked Djokovic’s deportation. He had reinstated his visa and ordered his immediate release from the summary detention center where he had been placed.
But the Minister of Immigration had counterattacked on Friday and canceled his visa for the second time under his discretionary powers, citing “health and public order reasons”.
Vucic berates his counterpart
Meanwhile, in Serbia, Australia’s decision affecting the national hero has sparked outrage.
“They humbled themselves. Djokovic can come back to his country with his head held high and look everyone straight in the eye,” said president Aleksandar Vucic.
“Despite this outrageous decision, we believe that Novak emerged victorious again,” added the Serbian Olympic Committee.
The Australian Djokovic fiasco has made at least one happy: the Italian Salvatore Caruso.
The one who is ranked 150th in the world had the opportunity to enter the main draw thanks to his status as ” lucky loser “. Caruso was eliminated in qualifying before being drafted thanks to this withdrawal.
He faced Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round on Sunday night (Montreal time).
– With the collaboration of AFP