Novak Djokovic faces deportation after Australia revokes his visa again.
Novak Djokovic’s visa has been revoked a second time, leaving the world’s No. 1 men’s tennis player facing deportation ahead of the Australian Open.
Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced the decision on Friday.
Per the Associated Press, Djokovic’s attorneys are expected to appeal the decision with the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The same court granted his appeal when his visa was revoked the first time upon his arrival in Melbourne on Jan. 6. The Australian Open starts on Monday.
An order like this typically comes with a three-year ban from obtaining another visa in Australia. It wasn’t immediately clear if the Australian government intended to pursue such a ban.
Djokovic admitted to false info on document, not isolating while infected
The decision arrives after Djokovic released a statement on Wednesday acknowledging that he provided false information on an Australian immigration declaration and admitted to giving an in-person media interview in December while knowingly infected with COVID-19.
Djokovic was initially granted a medical exemption to Australian Open COVID-19 vaccine requirements by Tennis Australia and the state of Victoria prior to his arrival in Melbourne. The Australian Border Force canceled his visa while he was in transit, declaring that he “failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia.” Immigrants are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, barring a medical exemption.
Djokovic was detained in an immigration hotel until Jan. 10, when Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated his visa, overruling the previous decision by federal immigration authorities. Kelly reasoned in his ruling that authorities made their final decision to revoke Djokovic’s visa at 7:42 a.m. when they had promised to allow him until 8:30 a.m. to respond to the cancelation.
Djokovic isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19
Since his visa was initially reinstated, it was revealed that Djokovic declared that he isn’t vaccinated and tested positive for COVID-19 in December, which he cited as the basis for his medical exemption request.
Meanwhile, reports and social media posts have shown that Djokovic traveled from his home country of Serbia to Spain in the two weeks prior to his arrival in Australia, contradicting a declaration on immigration documents that he hadn’t traveled the previous 14 days.
In his statement on Wednesday, Djokovic blamed his agent for “ticking the incorrect box” regarding his previous travel.
