Voice of America
14 Jan 2022, 20:05 GMT+10
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Australia has canceled the visa of the world No. 1 tennis player, Novak Djokovic, on health and public order grounds.The Serbian player's lawyers are expected to challenge the government's decision in court.
Australia Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said he had canceled Djokovic's visa on 'health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so."
He said his decision had been made after careful consideration of information provided by the "Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr. Djokovic."
The tennis star had been granted a medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination rules by two independent health panels organized by Australian tennis authorities and the Victoria state government.
However, he was detained when he arrived at Melbourne airport Jan. 5 by Australian Border Force officials. The cancelation of his visa was overturned by a federal court judge Monday.
However, his visa has now been revoked for a second time.
One tennis fan in Melbourne believes it was the right decision.
"Ah, look, I think it is for the best," the fan said. "The more you think about it, the tensions that would have been there, the booing from the crowd, the passionate fans on his side -- I just think it could . . . potentially be asking for trouble, personally, unfortunate as the whole saga is.So, I think it is the right decision and we can hopefully move on."
Djokovic said he had contracted coronavirus last month, which gave him the right to apply for a medical exemption. However, Australian border authorities had said that the tennis star had not met immigration regulations.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open title nine times.
Had he triumphed at this year's tournament, he would have become the most successful men's grand slam champion with 21 titles.
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationZAGREB, Croatia: Authorities have said that a weekend bus crash near Varazdin in Croatia killed 12 passengers and injured 32.The ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. will participate in a joint military exercise in mid-October with India, less than 62 miles from ...
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea has launched a domestically manufactured lunar orbiter that took off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space ...
MOSCOW, Russia: A leading Russian scientist in the field of hypersonic flight, Dr. Alexander Shiplyuk, has been arrested on suspicion ...
LOS ANGELES, California: During a meeting that was disrupted by protesters this week, the Los Angeles City Council voted to ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Justice Department announced this week that former Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vazquez has been arrested in ...
SANTA BARBARA, California - Australian singing sensation and actress Olivia Newtown-John has died at the age of 73."Dame Olivia Newton-John ...
CANBERRA, Australia: Australia's new government has announced plans to ban the development of a coal mine located near the Great ...
New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): A French Air and Space Force contingent, including three Rafale jets, was hosted in ...
Melbourne [Australia], August 11 (ANI): Australia men's cricket team have donated their prize money from their recent tour of Sri ...
Manchester [UK], August 11 (ANI): On this day in 2005, late Australian spin maestro Shane Warne became the first bowler ...
The redevelopment of the 22-hectare Barangaroo precinct on Sydney Harbour has long been a masterclass in poor urban development governance ...