Novak Djokovic opens a dramatic legal battle to stay in Australia

Novak Djokovic, number one on the world tennis list, will start an emergency fight on Monday to stay in Melbourne and defend his Australian Open championship, claiming he is all clear because of a positive coronavirus test in December. Djokovic tries to undo the surprise. the revocation of the visa and the consequent end of his detention at the infamous Melbourne Immigration Center culminates in a much-publicized online trial in federal court. The Serbian star of the vaccines was waiting for a showdown in the former Park Hotel, a five-story building. where some 32 migrants are trapped in Australia’s hard-line immigration system – some years.

No one can get in or out except the staff.

On Sunday, more than 100 protesters, many of whom were migrant rights, gathered in a park opposite downtown.

“Free, free, refugees,” the crowd shouted as dozens of police officers stood on the scene.

A week before the Australian Open on January 17 could delay the 34-year-old’s hope of winning its 10th crown in Melbourne and its record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

In an order issued to the public on Sunday, Judge Anthony Kelly said the one-day case was scheduled to proceed on Monday at 10 a.m. (Sunday at 2300 GMT), refusing to postpone the matter until Wednesday at the request of the government.

Djokovic’s lawyers sent a 35-page document on Saturday in which he claimed his visa had been wrongly revoked and should be returned so he could compete.

The team claimed that Djokovic’s claim of a positive PCR test on December 16, 2021 means that he meets the criteria for vaccine release as directed by the Australian Immunization Advisory Board.

“I’m humble”

But government lawyers rejected his argument point by point and urged the judge to dismiss the case at cost.

Djokovic is unvaccinated and poses a risk to people and the Australian healthcare system, they said in a 13-page document submitted to the court on Sunday.

According to the player’s lawyers, Tennis Australia allowed him to play in the tournament due to a recent infection because his vaccine application was approved by two independent medical panels.

But the Australian vaccination waiver form clearly states that a previous infection “is not a contraindication to vaccination,” government lawyers stressed.

They said “there is no assurance whatsoever that a non-citizen will enter Australia”.

Foreigners still have a ban on traveling to Australia for the most part, and those admitted must be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

Despite Djokovic’s claim of a positive test on December 16, images shared by the Belgrade Tennis Association showed him at an event for young players in the city on December 17.

It said he had handed over the cups and prizes to the players. No one wore a mask.

Djokovic also attended the meeting on December 16, when the Serbian National Post launched a series of stamps in his honor.

“Thank you to my generous country for this rare gift! I’m humble !!” he said at the time on Instagram.

In his tennis match, lawyers claimed he was subjected to an “unfair trial”, arguing that the Australian border authorities did not give him time to rest and consult with lawyers.

However, the government rejected this, saying Djokovic had the opportunity to take his case to the border guard and had previously been in contact with his lawyers.

After his arrest, his requests to transfer him to a facility where he can practice for the Australian Open are on deaf ears, his lawyers said.

The center gained fame last year when a fire forced the migrants to evacuate and larvae were found in the food.

“Gluten Free Food”

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said over the weekend that Serbia was completely behind the player and had had “constructive talks” with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

“We managed to get him gluten-free food, fitness equipment and a laptop,” he told Serbian Pink TV.

Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley on Sunday defended his organization from criticism that it did not warn players that a previous infection did not give them the right to enter without a Covid-19 vaccination.

“We’re not going to blame anyone because there’s a lot of conflicting information,” Tiley told Channel Nine, which broadcasts the Australian Open.

The visa for another Australian Open tennis player – Czech doubles expert Renata Voracova – was revoked after she was admitted.

He flew out of Australia on Saturday when he was held in the same center of Melbourne as Djokovic.

Most of Australia tightened restrictions to fight the wave of infection caused by Omicron, so the state of Victoria, whose capital is Melbourne, reported 44,155 cases on Sunday.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended Djokovic’s visa revocation, saying: “Rules are rules”.

Promoted

A federal judge hearing the Djokovic case warned his lawyers at a hearing on Thursday that the court would proceed at its own pace through all necessary appeals.

“He’s not rocking the dog here,” he said.