MELBOURNE, Jan 16 – Tennis star Novak Djokovic boarded a plane from Australia on Sunday after a State Court overturned a government decision to cancel his visa on the grounds that his decision not to cover COVID-19 could endanger the country.
A unanimous decision by a three-judge bench has shattered Djokovic’s hopes of winning the 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open, after a rollercoaster ride.
The Serbian player boarded an Emirates flight from Melbourne to Dubai on Sunday evening a few hours after the decision was made, a Reuters witness said. The flight was scheduled to depart at 10:30 p.m. (1130 GMT)
The flight closed on a trip that began when Djokovic, the world’s leading male player, was first detained by immigration officials on Jan. 6, and ordered by a court to be released on Jan. 10 he was then re-arrested on Saturday again. Learn more
Djokovic said after the decision he was very disappointed as it meant he would not be able to take part in the tournament which starts on Monday.
“I respect the Court’s decision and will co-operate with the relevant authorities regarding my departure,” he said in a statement, wishing the tournament well.
Djokovic, 34, has applied for Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to use his free will to cancel his visa. The minister said Djokovic could be a threat to public order because his presence would encourage feelings of inadequacy during the worst of the Australian outbreak. Learn more
Chief Justice James Allsop said the court’s decision was based on the legality and legitimacy of the minister’s decision on three grounds for appealing Djokovic’s legal team.
“It is not part of the court’s job to determine the merits or demerits of the decision,” Allsop said, adding that the three judges unanimously upheld their decision. Full reasons for the decision will be released in the coming days, he said.
It was not immediately clear when Djokovic would leave the country.
‘MAINTAIN YOURSELVES’
The player’s visa issue has made headlines around the world and has fueled debate over the rights of people who choose not to be vaccinated as governments take steps to protect their people from the two-year coronavirus epidemic.
The conflict became the political basis for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he prepares for elections in May. His government has faced criticism over its handling of Djokovic’s visa application.
Morrison welcomed the court ruling, saying the decision would help “keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe.”
“Now is the time to continue with the Australian Open and return to enjoy tennis in the summer,” he said in a statement.
Djokovic has been granted a visa to enter Australia, which is infected with COVID-19 on Dec. 16 which provides the basis for exemption from the cost of Australian vaccination for all visitors. The release is scheduled for Tennis Australia.
That release has sparked widespread outrage in Australia, which has led to the world’s most severe shutdown of COVID-19 in which more than 90% of adults have been vaccinated. The government has said recent infections do not meet their release standards.
Fan’s Disappointment
But the player also has support, especially in his home country Serbia and in Serbia living in Australia.
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Sunday, “I think the court’s decision is a disgrace, I am ashamed, I think it has shown the way the law works or it is better to say it does not work in other countries.”
In Melbourne, about 70 Djokovic fans, including young children, sang traditional songs and sang in the State Court while awaiting a court ruling.
They gathered at the microphone to hear the judge read the verdict, but it took several minutes for the court to reconvene before Djokovic was found missing. Two women were weeping, and some began to sing for a while before the crowd dispersed.
They did everything today without justice, ”said Natasha Marjnovic, 44, a Djokovic fan who was wiping away tears.
In Serbia, people have vented their anger on the treatment of their sports hero. President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday criticized the Australian government for what it called “harassment and bullying (ko) … the best tennis player ever.”
Vucic said on Sunday he spoke to the player after a court ruling. “I told him we couldn’t wait to see him,” he told reporters. “I told him he was always welcome in Serbia.”
The men’s governing body ATP said “today’s decision to cancel the Australian visa cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s visa marks the end of a series of tragic events”.
He added that the decisions of law enforcement officials regarding public health should be respected. Learn more
Tennis Australia said it respected the decision.
In the tennis court, some players have become impatient for the media circus around Djokovic to end as it has become an unwelcome distraction, raising doubts about the selection of matches for the tournament.
But many have expressed sympathy for Djokovic following his legal defeat.
“There was a political agenda being played here as elections approached that would not be clear,” Vasek Pospisil, a Canadian tennis player, tweeted.
“This is not his fault.”