Australia Cancel Novak Djokovic's Visa AGAIN, Australian Open Champion Faces Deportation

Australia have cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time - just days before the start of the Australian Open.

Australia's immigration minister Alex Hawke has made the decision to revoke Djokovic's visa, meaning he will likely be deported - with legal action his only hope of participating in the Grand Slam, which begins on Monday.

Djokovic was detained when he landed in Melbourne last week and Australian Border Force officials interrogated him for hours.

They eventually cancelled his visa because they didn't believe he had enough evidence to support a medical exemption not to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

His legal team launched an appeal and told the Melbourne Federal Circuit Court that he had tested positive in mid-December last year. They believed the anti-bodies would be enough protection against the virus.

They also argued that he had done everything Tennis Australia and the Victorian government had asked in order to come to Australia to play in the Grand Slam.

The federal court approved and Judge Kelly overturned his visa cancellation. He was free to leave his quarantine hotel and begin training for the Australian Open.

However, Djokovic revealed on Wednesday (January 12) that he had broken the rules last year after testing positive for Covid-19.

While he claims he didn't know he was infectious on December 16 and 17, he admitted to attending an interview on December 18 while being knowingly positive with the virus.

He said he didn't want to let the journalist down but has now apologised for the decision to go ahead with the interview.

The Serbian tennis star also touched on his travel declaration form that was filled out by his agent when he arrived in Australia.

His team ticked the box that said he hadn't travelled anywhere in the 14 days prior to his arrival in Australia, however that was found to be false as he was in two countries within that time frame.

Djokovic said that was a genuine 'human error' and certainly not an instance of being deliberately misleading.

Hawke said earlier this week that his department was looking into the new claims.

"Mr Djokovic's lawyers have recently provided lengthy further submissions and supporting documentation said to be relevant to the possible cancellation of Mr Djokovic's visa," a spokesman for Mr Hawke said.

"Naturally, this will affect the timeframe for a decision."

Words by Stewart Perrie.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Novak Djokovic, Australian Open