Novak Djokovic’s Visa Cancelled Again; Another Appeal Ahead?

by Staff | January 14th, 2022, 2:38 am
  • 6 Comments

At this moment, Novak Djokovic is in the Australian Open draw, but for how much longer?

Less than an hour ago at 6pm local time in Melbourne, Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke cancelled the world No. 1’s visa for a second time.

“Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” he posted in a statement.


“This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.

“In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.

“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I thank the officers of the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force who work every day to serve Australia’s interests in increasingly challenging operational environments.”

Djokovic’s lawyers were already reportedly preparing for the move, so another appeal is likely. Otherwise, Djokovic will be detained and deported, and could face up to a three-year ban from entering Australia.

The decision comes just over 24 hours after Djokovic was placed in the draw.


You Might Like:
Novak Djokovic Loses Appeal, No Australian Open, He’ll Be Deported
Verdict In Maria Sharapova’s Appeal Of Her 2-Year Ban To Be Announced 9am ET Tuesday
Denied! Novak Djokovic Has Australian Visa Cancelled, Told To Fly Home
French Open Monday Play Has Been Cancelled, Novak Djokovic Has To Win 4 Matches In 6 Days?
Maria Sharapova Files Appeal With CAS, Seeks Full Elimination Of 2-Year Doping Ban

Don't miss any tennis action, stay connected with Tennis-X

Get the FREE TX daily newsletter

6 Comments for Novak Djokovic’s Visa Cancelled Again; Another Appeal Ahead?

BT Says:

I can’t see how he’s going to get out of this one, it doesn’t seem like any legal process hasn’t been followed, the immigration may minister has the trump card. That said the way this saga has been going who really knows!


PJ Says:

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no expert on immigration laws in any country. Medical exemption aside, the two things that stand out to me are going out after the positive result came back and (maybe more importantly) incorrectly filling out the form. I’m wondering how many people would’ve even had a chance to stay if they were in the same spot without the noteriety.


Dan the Man Says:

Yes, it’s 3 strikes and you’re out for Djokovic.
1) With 97% of the men’s draw vaccinated, he seems to think he’s above the rest of the players not needing required vaccines in most countries around the world
2) The ‘accidental’ and ‘administrative error’ about claiming he hadn’t travelled in the 14 days before coming to Australia was clearly not a mistake – that is the oldest trick in the book to blame it on your team when information is falsified on a travel doc.
3) Not even following quarantine regulations after being positive – it is the law in Serbia as well, shows a blatant disregard for the health of others. Please remember, he was pounded in the press over the superspreader tennis event he hosted in 2020 – he knows the rules.

Djokovic will win the most slams, but his legacy to fans is at massive risk now. He really needs to apologize to the public, to help repair the damage to his reputation.


the_mind_reels Says:

@Dan the Man: or will we see him do what politicians so often do, which is dig in and double-down on the initial narrative (“I’m not at fault — come on, people.”) rather than reverse course and try to cut losses? This seems to be the approach already with his lawyers attempting a last-ditch effort over the weekend to overturn this. I wouldn’t be surprised if Novak’s dad is out there already riling up his local media as well (“Witch hunt!”).


chico Says:

Feeling like I am going against the tide here, in a bad way. I feel like someone like Graham Is going to get it sideways when I say that all in all this whole circus is petty in the way Djokovic has been targeted. Djokovic is being stopped from working his profession. Say wath you want about the guy but his career can be defined as artitstry, excellence in his own field on the verge of culminating into something that could maybe not be surpassed in a hundred years. Like maybe there was an unknown genious that would have painted the sistine chapel, but he was sidelined because he had the flu so Michelangelo got the gig.

One part of humanity is about striving for something that has not been done before. May it be striving for the moon, finding a new continent(?!) or make the finest handcraft or whatever your profession is. That is how culture, standard of living develop. By individuals who are ready to sacrify, work their asses of to be the best they can be.

Djokovic is this kind of a person, and being it in a profession that is one of the most competitive on the planet makes it even more extraordinary. A farmer might try to plow the straightest (row?) ever plowed, but when he succeeds, he wont have 10 000 humans watching.

And descendants of colonists wants to kick him out of the country? It is not only their loss but Djokovic own personal loss. For us others it is only a debate. You cannot seriously say that one person might wreck the pandemic balance in a country. Putting him in a facility with untreated covid? Nice one, instead of giving him a pass, acknowledging his historical achievement knowing that he do not feel taking the vaccine is the right thing to do. Easy to say afterwards, but that would have been appropriate, fair and saved time and Australian taxpayers money.


the_mind_reels Says:

@chico: not singling you out, but rather responding to the logic of your post: what you’re describing is essentially exceptionalism. He should be treated differently than the rest because of something he has done in the past. Unfortunately for that line of arguing, no part of this is about tennis. The laws, the rules, and also COVID all collectively don’t care if he’s a tennis player, a painter, or a businessperson. It’s irrelevant.

Nobody is claiming he alone will wreck the pandemic. But it flies in the face of any sensible approach to public health policy when you treat some people arbitrarily different because they are celebrities or sports stars. (And that goes for filling out your immigration forms properly too.)

Top story: Sinner Swallows Up Zverev For Second Straight Australian Open, 3rd Slam