Australian judge reinstates Novak Djokovic's visa, orders his release from hotel quarantine

1:45 AM

Novak Djokovic's visa was canceled after he arrived in Australia because he was unvaccinated.

The judge ordered the government to release the tennis player from the hotel within 30 minutes of his decision.

The minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs will consider whether to use a personal power of cancelation after hearing from a government lawyer.

That would mean that the Australian Open could be disrupted by the deportation of the Serbian star.

The Australian government canceled the visa of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic because he didn't meet the criteria for an exemption to an entry requirement that all non-citizens be fully vaccine free.

He had evidence that he had been exposed to the coronaviruses, so he didn't need proof of vaccine.

The exemption for the vaccine rule can be granted to people who have been exposed to COVID-19 within six months.

Tennis Australia gave a medical exemption to the Serbian tennis player and he provided officials at the airport with it.

I'm somewhat agitated about what more this man could have done. Nick Wood was asked by Kelly.

Wood agreed with the judge that there was not enough done by the Serbian player.

Wood said that the transcripts of the interview with Border Force officials and his own affidavit showed that he had done everything he was told to do in order to enter Australia.

Since Thursday, when his visa was canceled, he has been under guard in a hotel.

The judge ordered the tennis player to be released from the hotel during his court hearing. It wasn't clear where he relocated during his hearing. He didn't appear on screen in the first hours.

The grounds for appeal were submitted by the lawyers. The cancellation was described as irrational and legally unreasonable by the lawyers.

If the judge ruled in the favor of the player, officials might cancel his visa a second time, according to the lawyers for the Home Affairs Minister.

If the traveler has a COVID-19 infection, the vaccine requirement can only be deferred.

There is no suggestion that the man tested positive for a serious illness in December.

An overwhelming number of people from around the world were trying to watch the virtual hearing.

The Australian Open has nine-time champion Novak Djokovic. He has 20 Grand Slam singles titles, a men's record, and he shares it with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.