According to reports, the Australian government has decided to postpone Djokovic’s deportation. The authorities had previously canceled Djokovic’s visa for the second time on Friday, citing his Covid-19 vaccination status as a reason for deportation.
The decision was made just three days before the Australian Open, putting Djokovic’s chances of winning a record 21st Grand Slam in jeopardy. Djokovic, an outspoken opponent of the Covid-19 vaccine, is the tournament’s top seed and had been practicing on the Melbourne Park courts just hours before Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s shocking announcement.
Hawke said in a statement that the government is “firmly committed to securing Australia’s borders, particularly in connection to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He justified the decision by citing “health and good order considerations” and claiming that “it was in the public interest to do so.”
“Australians have made significant sacrifices throughout this pandemic, and they properly expect the consequence of those sacrifices to be preserved,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
The visa cancellation basically prevents the world’s top tennis player from receiving a new Australian visa for three years, unless extraordinary circumstances exist.
