Djokovic eager to participate in the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic’s name appeared in the draw for the Australian Open, despite doubts that his visa could be revoked.
The world number one is expected to face his Serbian compatriot, Momir Kismanovic, in the first round.
But an Australian government spokesman said Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was still studying the possibility of using his powers to revoke Djokovic’s visa.
Last week, the authorities temporarily prevented Djokovic from entering the country, because he had not received a vaccination against the Corona virus.
He said that his infection with the virus, in mid-December, allows him to enter Australia, but the authorities canceled Djokovic’s visa on the grounds that it was not a reasonable reason to exempt him.
The 34-year-old was placed in a Melbourne detention center for five days while he lodged an appeal against the government’s decision to cancel his visa. On Monday, a court rejected the government’s decision, finding that officials at the Migration Agency had not respected established procedures.
Mr Hook said, however, that he intended to revoke the Serbian star’s visa on other grounds, including “integrity”, on the grounds that Djokovic had defrauded Australian immigration authorities.
Djokovic admitted Wednesday that he violated the quarantine rules in Serbia, when he met people, knowing that he was infected with the Corona virus.
He also admitted that he made mistakes in filling out entry forms to Australia, when he stated that he had not traveled anywhere in the 14 days prior to his arrival in Australia, while he had traveled to Spain.
Djokovic said it was a human error, committed by his manager. However, false declaration in travel forms, whether intentional or erroneous, is grounds for cancellation of the visa.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison refused to specify when a decision would be issued by his government, refuting media reports that suggested that this would happen sooner.
“Those are powers of ministers, which Secretary Hook can decide on, and I don’t want to comment on them now,” he told a news conference.
Djokovic and the Australian government have come under fire for the visa crisis. The Australians, and the residents of Melbourne, where the tennis tournament, in particular, is taking place, lived in harsh conditions under strict closure, during the spread of the Corona virus epidemic.
Djokovic has won 20 major tennis tournaments, a record he shares with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. If he wins in Australia, he will become the most decorated tennis player in the history of the sport.
But many argue that the rich and famous have more freedom to enter and leave the country than the general public in Australia.
Divided opinions on the issue appear in the comments of netizens on the match between Djokovic and Kishimanovic:
One wrote: “Please get him out of the country. I will boycott his match if he is going to a match I bought a ticket for.”
But another fan wrote: “Now is the time to find out who is the best player in the world. Come on Novak.”