MY ACCOUNT
Novak Djokovic was detained once again by Australian border force officials ahead of Saturday’s crucial hearing, according to widespread reports.
It was agreed in court on Friday that the world number one would be detained in Melbourne, ahead of a hearing that will take place with justice David O’Callaghan from the Federal Court on Saturday at 10:15 (Friday 23:15 GMT).
Djokovic, whose visa was revoked for a second time on Friday despite the 34-year-old winning his initial case on Monday, was granted permission to remain at his accommodation but it was agreed he would be detained at 08:00 in Melbourne when he was due to report for an interview with immigration officials.
The 34-year-old is fighting the decision, and lawyer Nick Wood, on behalf of Djokovic, contended in a directions hearing on Friday evening that the “underlying new rationale” behind the Australian government’s latest move to kick out the Serbian is that it contends his presence “will excite anti-vax sentiment”.
Wood said immigration minister Alex Hawke had given no consideration to the impact that deporting Djokovic may have among those opposed to COVID-19 vaccines, saying his client was of “negligible risk”, “of good standing” and had a medical contraindication to a vaccine.
In a statement released on Friday, Hawke said the decision had been taken “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”.
Djokovic has expressed opposition to vaccine mandates in the past and has confirmed he has not been vaccinated against coronavirus.
The case has been transferred from the Federal Circuit Court to the Federal Court of Australia, judge Anthony Kelly said, and will take place via videolink.
Whatever decision is made, this is woeful preparation for Djokovic ahead of the tournament where he was planning to mount an assault on a 10th Australian Open title, and a record-setting 21st grand slam.
Djokovic will then be allowed to attend meetings with his solicitors in person from 10:00 to 14:00 on Saturday, accompanied by Border Force officials, before returning to a detention hotel until he is reunited with his solicitors from 09:00 on Sunday.
To avoid possible disorder on the streets, he is set to meet his legal team away from their Melbourne offices, where fans gathered and unruly behaviour took place following Djokovic’s first effort to clear a path to play at the tournament that begins on Monday.
Should Djokovic lose his case, he faces being deported from Australia.
