AusLeisure

Having banned international tennis star Novak Djokovic from entering the country for three years as of January 2022, the Australian Government has overturned its visa ban on the player meaning he will be able to compete in next January’s Australian Open tournament.

The Serbian tennis star detention by Australian authorities over his refusal to be vaccinated against Coronavirus dominated news during the lead up to the Australian Open in January. He was deported from the country 10 days later, despite mounting a successful legal challenge.

However, Australia’s new Immigration Minister Andrew has overturned the ban and is set to grant Djokovic.

Speaking yesterday, Australian Open Tournament Director, Craig Tiley said he was confident that Djokovic would play in next year's opening Grand Slam, telling the Australian Associated Press "I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.

"He loves Australia and it's where he's had the best success."

The tennis champion earlier this year told the BBC he flew into Australia believing he had obtained the medical exemptions required.

However, he was detained and questioned by border officials in Melbourne on 5th January, and his visa was cancelled in the early hours of the following morning.

Having been advised that his visa ban had been lifted, the 21-time Grand Slam champion told reporters at the ATP Finals in Turin after reaching the semi-finals, "I could not receive better news.

"It was a relief obviously knowing what I and people closest to me in my life have been through this year with what happened in Australia and post Australia obviously.

"(The) Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slams. I made some of the best memories there.

"Of course, I want to go back there, I want to play tennis, do what I do best, hopefully have a great Australian summer."

Related Articles

1st October 2022 - Dubai’s inaugural tennis league attracts Djokovic and Swiatek to compete in new format

8th August 2022 - Pandemic affected Australian Open events generated significant economic benefit and record broadcast numbers

7th February 2022 - Technogym celebrates partnership behind Rafa Nadal’s Australian Open win

2nd February 2022 - Australian Open 2022 scores with sponsorship and broadcast success

30th January 2022 - Tennis Australia offers 10,000 hours of free court hire to celebrate Australian Open success

27th January 2022 - Australian Open’s spectator limit increased to 65% for remainder of tournament

24th January 2022 - Australian Open security guards order fan to remove shirt featuring message supporting Chinese tennis player

17th January 2022 - Media pressure mounts on Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley in wake of Novak Djokovic visa cancellation

16th January 2022 - Novak Djokovic loses appeal against visa cancellation and set to be deported from Australia

15th January 2022 - Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa revoked because of risk to ‘health and good order’

13th January 2022 - Victorian Government updates COVIDSafe event plan for Australian Open

10th January 2022 - Novak Djokovic wins Court appeal against decision to cancel his Australian visa

6th January 2022 - Australian Border Force moves to deport tennis star Novak Djokovic after visa cancellation

4th January 2022 - Australian Open advises of medical exemption for Novak Djokovic to compete in Melbourne

23rd December 2021 - Small number of Australian Open players and staff to receive COVID-19 medical exemptions

3rd December 2021 - COVID-19 restrictions and player quarantine for Australian Open see Tennis Australia record $100 million loss

20th November 2021 - Vaccinated crowds to return for 2022 Australian Open but unvaccinated players will be barred

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.