Djokovic set to be granted visa to play at Aus Open
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic is set to be granted a visa to play in next year’s Australian Open despite his high-profile deportation in January. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Tuesday said it had confirmed newspaper reports that the immigration minister had overturned a potential three-year exclusion period for Djokovic.djokovic
The Australian Border Forc has previously said an excl sion period could be waived certain circumstances — a that each case would assessed on its merit Immigration Minist Andrew Giles’ office refuse to comment on priv grounds, meaning announc ment o
Djokovi ’ visa status would have to come from the 35-year-old tennis star.
The 21-time Grand Slam singles champion wasn’t allowed to defend his Australian Open title this year after a tumultuous 10-day legal saga over his COVID-19 vaccination status that culminated with his visa being revoked on the eve of the tournament. Djokovic arrived at Melbourne Airport as the world’s topranked tennis player with a visa he’d obtained online and what he believedlieved to be a valid medical xemmption to the ountry’s strict laws for unvaccinated travelers because it was endorsed by Tennis Australia and the government of Victoria r state, which hos ts the tournament. Co onfusion reigned, ener rating global headine es. As it transpired, t hh a t medical exemption e allowed him entry to the tournament, which required all players, p fans and officials o to be vaccinated c for the coron navirus, but not ne ecessarily to enter th e country. It was rej jected by the Australian Border Force.
Alex Hawke, Australia’s immigration minister at the time, used discretionary powers to cancel Djokovic’s visa on character grounds, stating he was a “talisman of a community of anti-vaccine sentiment.”
Australia has had a change of government and changed its border rules this year and, since July 6, incoming travellers no longer have to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccinations. That removed the major barrier to entry for Djokovic. It allowed him to apply to new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to reconsider his visa status. In his favour, Djokovic left Australia quickly after his visa was revoked and has not publicly criticised Australian authorities. As the Department of Home Affairs website explains, applicants in Djokovic’s circumstances must explain in writing to Australia’s border authorities why the exclusion period should be put aside — “you must show us that there are compassionate or compelling circumstances to put aside your re-entry ban and grant you the visa.” Djokovic indicated on Monday at the ATP Finals in Italy that his lawyers were communicating with the Australian government with a view to him contesting the Australian Open.