The Australian government said Sunday that world number one Novak Djokovic has not received a vaccine once morest the Covid-19 virus, and that his legal battle to remain in the country and participate in the Australian Open should be rejected.
Djokovic, 34, is fighting the sudden revocation of his Australian visa to be released from a Melbourne detention center and allowed to participate in the first Grand Slam that begins on the 17th.
Federal Court Judge Anthony Kelly called an online hearing to decide the case at 10 a.m. Monday, in the matter that has stirred controversy among tennis fans around the world.
Djokovic, who has always publicly questioned the vaccine, has not revealed whether he received it.
But in a 13-page court filing published on Sunday, Australian government lawyers said the issue of “common ground” between the two sides in the legal dispute was that Djokovic was “not vaccinated”.
They added that unvaccinated people pose a greater risk of spreading COVID-19 and overburdening the health system.
Djokovic thought he obtained a medical exemption from tournament organizers when he traveled to Australia on Wednesday on the grounds that he contracted the virus on December 16, 2021, his lawyers revealed Saturday.
But according to Australian federal authorities’ vaccination exemption forms, previous infection with COVID-19 is not a valid reason not to receive the vaccine.
But talking regarding Djokovic’s infection with Corona on the 16th of last month, may put him in another trouble, as the Serbian attended the next day (December 17) in Belgrade for young Serbian players without wearing a muzzle, according to published photos issued by the Serbian Tennis Federation on the media. social.
The majority of Serbian media spoke of the ceremony on the 17th, but Djokovic also attended on the same day for his positive test another event and posted his photos on Instagram.
Lawyers for Home Secretary Karen Andrews also rejected a separate argument that Djokovic was treated unfairly by the customs officer who greeted him.
They say the Serb had the time to explain his case to the immigration officer at Melbourne Airport and also had time to call his lawyer in advance, contrary to his assurances.
Australian government lawyers maintain that “the visa application must be refused”.
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