The case of the Serbian tennis pro had become a political issue.
(Photo: imago images/AAP)
Melbourne Novak Djokovic is not allowed to take part in the Australian Open and has to leave the country. As the federal court in Australia ruled on Sunday, the Serbian tennis pro’s appeal against his denied entry and the annulment of the visa was rejected.
The decision was unanimous, according to the announcement by the three judges James Allsop, Anthony Besanko and David O’Callaghan. The reason should be given on Monday at the earliest. Neither side can appeal the verdict.
This means that the 34-year-old Djokovic cannot defend his title at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne. His goal was to become the sole record holder in front of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with the 21st title in a Grand Slam tournament.
The meeting started around 9:30 a.m. (local time). The decision was announced shortly before 6 p.m. local time. As the Australian news agency AAP reported, Djokovic had followed the meeting from his lawyers’ office in Melbourne. The record winner of the Australian Open spent the night before the hearing in the federal court in a deportation hotel.
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The final negotiation was preceded by a hanging game that lasted for days. His visa was invalidated a second time in a personal decision by Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke on Friday. The world number one is not vaccinated against the corona virus and is therefore a controversial person in the country, which has set tough rules since the beginning of the pandemic.
When the authorities refused him entry last week, he was temporarily taken to a deportation hotel. An initial court decision on Monday was in his favour, Djokovic then continued preparing for the Australian Open.
More: All developments in the corona pandemic in the news blog.