Novak Djokovic ‘pleased and grateful’ for Australian visa appeal victory
Novak Djokovic is “pleased and grateful” that his appeal against a decision to refuse him a visa in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia was successful and he wants to “stay and try to compete” at the Australian Open.
Judge Anthony Kelly quashed the visa cancellation and ordered the Australian Government to pay legal costs and release the Serbian from detention within half an hour.
But Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke is still considering whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation of Djokovic’s visa in a process that could drag on for a number of days.
The world number one tweeted: “I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen.
“I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.
“For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong.”
I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened,I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 10, 2022
I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans. 👇 pic.twitter.com/iJVbMfQ037
At a press conference staged by the Djokovic family in Belgrade, his mother Dijana described her son’s successful appeal as “the biggest win of his career – bigger than any of the grand slams he has won”.
She added: “He has done nothing wrong. He hasn’t broken any of their laws, but he was subjected to torture, to harassment.
“He fought against that system and against that government because he thought had the right to be there with the visa that he got, and he went there to win that tournament.” Djokovic’s brother Djordje revealed that he has already returned to the tennis court for the first time since his detention as he bids to make up for lost time ahead of his prospective start next week.
“Novak is free – a few moments ago he trained on a tennis court,” said Djordje.
“He went to Australia to play tennis, to try to win another Australian Open and to win a record that he has been chasing for so many years.”
Meanwhile, Djokovic’s uncle Goran Djokovic claimed Australian officials were urging Djokovic to give up his battle or risk being given a three-year ban from entering the country.
A spokesman for Minister Hawke, in a statement released to AAP, said: “Following today’s Federal Circuit and Family Court determination on a procedural ground, it remains within Immigration Minister Hawke’s discretion to consider cancelling Mr Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation within section 133C(3) of the Migration Act.
“The Minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing.”
How to be an 8x #AusOpen champion featuring @DjokerNole 😏
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 12, 2021
📸 Novak Djokovic (IG)#AO2021 pic.twitter.com/Mdk4uszrdp
It is understood that previous reports that Hawke has a four-hour window in which to consider cancellation of Djokovic’s visa is redundant because it would only have applied had he been re-interviewed.
As supporters gathered outside, Djokovic remained holed up in the court building with his lawyers, with the world number one’s furious uncle accusing the authorities of treating the player like a “wolf in the mountains”.
Goran Djokovic told GB News: “We are supposed to celebrate a win over the Australian State, but unfortunately that is not true because Novak is still in the office of the court building.
“The State lawyer is threatening that (Hawke) can over-rule the decision of the court and arrest him again.
“Also, they have told him personally that it is better to leave Australia immediately, or they can ban him from getting into Australia for the next three years.
“I cannot believe it is happening. If Novak is not coming they are supposed to say that, please don’t come, but they issue a visa for him and then they arrest him.
“For me he is being treated like an animal, like a wolf in the mountains – they invite him to come and they trap him and put him into jail and try to put him on his knees – but it is not possible.”
Officers were seen standing outside the offices of the world number one's legal team as a white van used to transport detained migrants drove into the basement.
It is believed Novak Djokovic was inside the office, however, he has not been seen since the judge's ruling earlier this morning.
Supporters of tennis star gathered outside the offices of his legal team where scenes were described as "hectic".
Police used pepper spray against Djokovic supporters who mobbed a car that was exiting the building.
A black car with darkened windows emerged about 8.45pm local time with fans, many in Serbian coloured clothing, surrounding the vehicle as it moved at a snail’s pace down King Street.
The chanting and dancing around the car became more intense and eventually people were dancing on top of the car and banging on its windows.
Around this time, police began moving people away from the front of the car.
Some fans then reacted by shoving officers and verbally abusing them.
Police used O.C spray to move them along.
After the crowd dispersed, a large group of fans confronted the police and hurled bottles and verbal abuse at them.
It is not clear if the car was actually carrying Djokovic.
He was not in the front seat or the back left seat. The back right window had a shade blocking the view from outside.
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