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Novak Djokovic set to play in Australian Open despite visa uncertainty Novak Djokovic in Australian Open draw despite visa uncertainty
(about 1 hour later)
Novak Djokovic has been drawn to play in the Australian Open despite ongoing uncertainty over whether his visa will be cancelled again by the government.Novak Djokovic has been drawn to play in the Australian Open despite ongoing uncertainty over whether his visa will be cancelled again by the government.
The world number one men's player was included in the draw on Thursday afternoon after an initial delay. The world number one men's player will defend his title against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has said he is still considering using his powers to revoke Djokovic's visa. However Australia's Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is still considering using his powers to revoke Djokovic's visa, a spokesman said.
Djokovic was barred entry last week due to lack of vaccination. Djokovic was temporarily barred entry last week because he is not vaccinated.
He said his Covid infection in mid-December met the conditions for foreigners entering Australia, but authorities cancelled his visa on the basis that it was not a valid exemption.He said his Covid infection in mid-December met the conditions for foreigners entering Australia, but authorities cancelled his visa on the basis that it was not a valid exemption.
He was held in immigration detention for five days while he challenged the deportation order. On Monday a court dramatically overturned the government's visa cancellation after finding that immigration officials hadn't followed proper procedure. Djokovic, 34, was held in immigration detention in Melbourne for five days while he challenged the deportation order. On Monday a court overturned the government's visa cancellation after finding that immigration officials had not followed proper procedure.
Following the verdict though, Australia's immigration minister said he was still considering cancelling the tennis star's visa on other grounds. Top seed and nine-time #AusOpen champion 🇷🇸 @DjokerNole begins his title defence against Miomir Kecmanovic.#AO2022 pic.twitter.com/96MAlHNElG
With his actions under heavy scrutiny, Djokovic admitted on Wednesday that he had also broken Covid isolation rules in Serbia after meeting up with people when he knew he was positive. But Mr Hawke said that he was still considering cancelling the Serbian tennis star's visa for other reasons, which could include "character grounds" on the basis that he misled the Australian Border Force.
He admitted he had also made errors on his travel form into Australia. Djokovic admitted on Wednesday that he had also broken Covid isolation rules in Serbia after meeting up with people when he knew he was positive with the virus.
A false declaration on his travel form is grounds for a visa cancellation. Why Djokovic is a polarising player
Djokovic said his agent had prepared the paperwork and made an "administrative mistake" in ticking a box saying he hadn't travelled anywhere 14 days prior to entering Australia. What did Djokovic do after testing positive?
On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to say when a decision might come from his government, quashing press gallery reports that a decision would be made imminently. Is Djokovic saga an unforced error for Australia?
"[The immigration minister's] position hasn't changed," he told reporters at a Covid press briefing. He also admitted he had made errors on his travel form into Australia, by ticking a box declaring he had not travelled anywhere 14 days prior to entering the country, when in fact he had been to Spain.
"These are personal ministerial powers able to be exercised by Minister [Alex] Hawke and I don't propose to make any further comment at this time, Djokovic said this was a "human error" made by his agent. However a false declaration on a travel form - accidental or not - is grounds for a visa cancellation.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to say when a decision might come from his government, quashing press gallery reports that it would be made imminently.
"These are personal ministerial powers able to be exercised by Minister Hawke and I don't propose to make any further comment at this time," he said at a press briefing.
Intense criticism has been aimed at both Djokovic and Australian authorities over the visa row. Australians, and in particular those living in the city of Melbourne where the Australian Open will take place, have had to endure some of the world's strictest and longest lockdowns during the pandemic.
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'If he plays I will not watch him': The Novak Djokovic case sparks strong reactions in Australia
Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam titles, a record he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. If he were to add to his tally of nine Australian Open wins he would become the most successful male player in history.
However many have pointed out that the rich and famous have been allowed greater freedoms to travel to and from the country than ordinary Australians.
The comments under an Australian Open tweet about Djokovic and Kecmanovic has attracted hundreds of comments showing how divided tennis fans are over the ordeal.
"Please send him home! I'll be boycotting his match if he is scheduled to play for the session I have a ticket for," one Twitter user wrote.
But a supporter tweeted: "Now it's time to show everyone who is the best tennis player in the world. Come on Champ, go Novak!"