Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic will be granted a visa to enter Australia for the 2023 Australian Open, despite his deportation from the country earlier this year, local media has reported on Tuesday.
The Australian government had decided to grant the unvaccinated Serb a visa, overturning a three-year ban after his ejection from the country, said national broadcaster ABC and other media.
This year's tournament was overshadowed by nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic being put on a plane on the eve of the tournament after a high-stakes legal battle over his visa status.
Djokovic was deported from Australia in January, after arriving in the country to defend his ninth Australia Open title, due to being unvaccinated against Covid-19. The Serb had travelled Down Under with a medical exemption, having tested positive for the coronavirus in the December, but that was not deemed a sufficient reason by the authorities.
A tumultuous 10-day legal saga ensued that saw Djokovic largely confined to an immigration detention hotel before his visa was revoked on the eve of the tournament.
Djokovic originally was granted an exemption to strict vaccination rules by two medical panels and Tennis Australia but, after traveling to Melbourne believing he had all his paperwork in order, the exemption was rejected by the Australian Border Force.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid.
Djokovic's three-year ban can be overturned at the discretion of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left government, which is different to the conservative coalition in power when he was kicked out.
Last month, Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said he had spent time with Djokovic recently and the Serbian wanted to return for the first major of the year in January in Melbourne.
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Novak is appealing Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's use of discretionary powers to cancel his visa again on the grounds that he was a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amidst Australia's worst outbreak of the virus. AFP -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs the Park Hotel while under immigration detention, to convene with his legal team after his visa to play in the Australian Open was cancelled a second time, in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. Reuters -
Three Federal Court judges will decide the fate of the world No 1 after a rollercoaster 10 days that saw him detained by immigration authorities, released and then detained again ahead of a tournament that starts on Monday. Reuters -
Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic gather outside the offices of Djokovic's legal team, as they listen to an audio court hearing. Getty Images -
Supporters of tennis player Novak Djokovic wave national flags as they gather in front of Federal Court building in Melbourne. AFP -
Goran Zabic, a Serbian supporter of tennis player Novak Djokovic, arrives in front of the office of Djokovic's lawyers on January 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images -
Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic hold their flags outside the Federal Court building in Melbourne. AP Photo -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs the Park Hotel while under immigration detention, to convene with his legal team. Reuters -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is photographed as he is transported from an Immigration Hotel in Melbourne. EPA -
The Serb, 34, was escorted to his lawyers office by immigration officials to attend the virtual court hearing on Sunday morning, having spent Saturday night back in an immigration detention hotel in Melbourne. Getty Images -
Media attempt to photograph Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic as he is transported from an Immigration Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. EPA -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs the Park Hotel while under immigration detention. Reuters -
Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic gather outside the offices of Djokovic's legal team on January 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Djokovic lost his attempt to overturn his deportation with the judges ruling unanimously to uphold the Australian government decision to cancel his visa. Getty Images -
Members of the media wait outside the car park of the office of the legal team of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. Getty Images -
Supporters of Novak Djokovic hold national flags as they gather in front of Federal Court building . AFP
"What we're saying at this point is that Novak and the federal government need to work out the situation. And then we'll follow any instruction after that," Tiley told The Age newspaper at the tournament's official launch.
"I did spend some time with Novak at the Laver Cup. We spoke generally. He said that he'd obviously love to come back to Australia but he knows it's going to be an ultimate decision for the federal government.
"He's accepted that position. It's a private matter between them."
Opposition politician Karen Andrews, who was home affairs minister when Djokovic was deported, argued that he should not be given special treatment.
"It would be a slap in the face for those people in Australia who did the right thing, got vaccinated, did everything they needed to do if all of a sudden Novak Djokovic is allowed back into the country simply because he is a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars," she told ABC radio last month.
