BREAKING: Novak Djokovic wins court appeal against cancellation of visa

A judge has ruled that Novak Djokovic has won the first leg of his appeal and will have his visa returned and will be released from his hotel.

Judge Anthony Kelly has sensationally ruled that Novak Djokovic should be released from immigration detention immediately. The judge said the visa cancellation decision will be quashed and the Australian government will have to pay his costs.

However the judge has also stated that the Australian Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews, reserves her personal power to remove Djokovic from Australia.

Judge Kelly has said that if the government do decide to exercise a personal power to cancel the visa then Djokovic will not be permitted to return to Australia within 3 years.

Novak Djokovic’s passport and all other personal effects must be returned to him. The lawyer representing the Australian Minister has said the government would comply with the orders.

Djokovic had been held in a hotel since early last week after being refused entry into Australia to compete in the Australian Open under a medical exemption even though he is unvaccinated against COVID 19.

Speaking in court, Judge Kelly said: “What more could this man have done?

“Here, a professor and an eminently qualified physician have produced and provided to the applicant a medical exemption.

“Further to that, that medical exemption and the basis on which it was given was separately given by a further independent expert specialist panel established by the Victorian state government and that document was in the hands of the delegate.”

? Read >> Breaking tennis news

? Follow >> 24/7 LIVE scores

? Free >> Receive our legendary newsletter

? Join >> Tennishead CLUB, the world’s only virtual tennis club

? Social >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube

? Order >> World’s best tennis magazine

? Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted retail partner