By Harry Awurumibe with Agency Reports
The dream of World Number One tennis player, Novak Djokovic to defend his Australian Open trophy this January has evaporated like early morning dews after he failed to win a second court case to overturn the second cancellation of his entry visa.
The Serbian tennis icon, who was taken in on January 5 and detained at a hotel by the Australian authorities for entering the country without being fully vaccinated against the dreaded COVID-10 virus, also had his visa cancelled.
But he was able to overturn the first cancellation of the entry document, after a court ruled that the right procedure was not followed and was subsequently scheduled among the players, with his first match of the 2022 Australian Open slated for Monday before the second hammer fell on him, with a fresh visa cancellation.
Attempts to overturn the decision from the Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, who announced the second visa cancellation last Friday, failed, as judges, held that the Minister had the power to do so, though they did not hold the tennis player culpable of any offence.
The bone of contention was that Djokovic had attempted to play in the tournament without being vaccinated against Australian Government’s COVID-19 rules that stated, thus throwing away the prospect of retaining the title for a record 10 times and being the first to hit a record 21 Grand Slams.
Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” by the ruling but respected it. He released a statement shortly after three Federal Court judges unanimously upheld a decision made Friday by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to cancel Djokovic’s visa on public interest grounds because he is not vaccinated.
Djokovic, 34, has won a record nine Australian Open titles, including three in a row, but this time won’t get the chance to try. Hawke confirmed Sunday that Djokovic “has now departed Australia.”
A masked Djokovic was photographed in a Melbourne Airport lounge with two government officials in black uniforms. He left at approximately 11 p.m. local time on an Emirates flight to Dubai, the same United Arab Emirates city he flew to Australia from.
“I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open,” Djokovic said in a statement.
“I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” he added.
Djokovic said he was “uncomfortable” that the focus had been on him since his visa was first canceled on arrival at the Melbourne airport on Jan. 6.
The national federation that runs the tournament, Tennis Australia, said it respects the decision of the Federal Court.
“We look forward to a competitive and exciting Australian Open 2022 and wish all players the best of luck,” it said in a statement.
In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic said the hearing was “a farce with a lot of lies.”
“They think that they humiliated Djokovic with this 10-day harassment, and they actually humiliated themselves. If you said that the one who was not vaccinated has no right to enter, Novak would not come or would be vaccinated,” Vucic told reporters.
He said he told Djokovic after talking to him “that we can’t wait to see him in Serbia, to return to his country, to come where he is always welcome.”
Vucic did not say whether Djokovic said he would first go to Serbia after his deportation.
Chief Justice James Allsop said the ruling came down to whether the Minister’s decision was “irrational or legally unreasonable.”
Said Hawke: “Australia’s strong border protection policies have kept us safe during the pandemic, resulting in one of the lowest death rates, strongest economic recoveries, and highest vaccination rates in the world.
“Strong border protection policies are also fundamental to safeguarding Australia’s social cohesion, which continues to strengthen despite the pandemic,” he added.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed what he described as the “decision to keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe.”
“It’s now time to get on with the Australian Open and get back to enjoying tennis over the summer,” Morrison said in a statement.
But an opposition spokesperson on the home affairs portfolio, Kristina Keneally, said Djokovic was being deported for what he said and did publicly overseas before the government gave him a visa in November.