Novak Djokovic’s barrister confirms his client is not in detention and it is their understanding he will not be detained tonight.
He is required to be "at a location" at 8am tomorrow, 7News Melbourne reporter Emma O'Sullivan wrote on Twitter.
The tennis stars lawyers want a hearing on Sunday before the Australian Open begins.
Novak Djokovic’s barrister confirms his client isn’t in detention and it’s their understanding he won’t be detained tonight. He is required to be ‘at a location’ at 8am tomorrow. His lawyers want a hearing on Sunday- before tournament starts.
— Emma O'Sullivan (@emma_os) January 14, 2022
Australia’s immigration minister Alex Hawke cancelled Djokovic’s visa on Friday “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”.
Alex Hawke released a statement concerning the fate the world’s number one tennis player late on Friday afternoon:
“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.
“This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.
“In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.
“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I thank the officers of the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force who work every day to serve Australia’s interests in increasingly challenging operational environments.”
Lawyers for the world number 1 tennis player are set to seek an immediate injunction which would allow him to stay and play his first round of the Australian Open pending an expedited trial next week.
Stefanos Tsitsipas expressed that “not everyone plays by the rules” when reflecting on Djokovic’s attitude towards the Australian Open.
“A small percentage seem to choose their own path, making the majority seem like fools or something like that,” he said in reference to Djokovic.
READ MORE: Aussie TV anchors caught trashing Novak Djokovic; called him a sneaky a**hole (video)
Tsitsipas added that in his opinion everyone has the right to choose what to do with their body, even though this is something that some use to disrespect other people.
“Your body is very important, it is your machine, if you feel that you are not safe, you have to protect it and you have to use it as a guide,” he said.
Djokovic arrived in Australia as COVID-19 cases were rising across the country.
He was denied entry last week at Melbourne’s airport after officials canceled his visa because he was not vaccinated, an entry requirement for non-citizens.
A judge reinstated the visa and ordered the Serb tennis star to be released from immigration detention.
None-the-less, he had his visa cancelled again and now faces another battle to stay in Australia.
