Novak Djokovic faces deportation after the Australian government revoked his visa for a second time.
The world No 1 had been waiting since a judge overturned the original decision on Monday to find out whether Immigration Minister Alex Hawke would use his powers to reimpose the penalty. Just before 6pm (7am UK time) on Friday, Hawke released a statement saying he had made the judgement to send Djokovic home “on health and good order grounds”.
Hawke said: “Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.
The decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.
Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on January 5 having been granted an exemption through Tennis Australia from the country’s strict entry rules regarding Covid-19 vaccination on the grounds he had been recently infected with the virus.
But he was stopped by the Australian Border Force and questioned through the night before being informed his visa had been cancelled. He was then taken to a detention hotel.
There could yet be a further legal challenge from the world No 1 but, if not, his hopes of winning a 10th title at Melbourne Park and 21st Grand Slam crown are at an end.
Djokovic drew unseeded Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
