Case half-closed

Melbourne, January 10

Novak Djokovic won a court battle today to stay in Australia to contest the Australian Open after his exemption from strict coronavirus vaccination rules was questioned, but the drama might not be finished, with the government threatening to cancel his visa a second time and deport him.

Hours later, the tennis star hit the court and was training, his brother told reporters. Djokovic himself tweeted that he was still planning to compete.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated the Djokovic’s visa, which was revoked after his arrival last week because officials said he didn’t meet the criteria for an exemption to a rule that all non-citizens be fully vaccinated. Djokovic’s lawyers say since he recently recovered from Covid-19, he didn’t need to be inoculated under Australia’s rules.

The judge ruled the No. 1 player had not been given enough time to speak to his lawyers before the decision was made and ordered the government to release him within 30 minutes from a Melbourne hotel where he has spent the last four nights. But government lawyer Christopher Tran told the judge that the immigration minister “will consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation.” — AP