Novak Djokovic was detained in Australia after border officers instructed the world No. 1 tennis participant that he didn't meet entry necessities and canceled his visa on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Serbian tennis participant, who was touring to the nation for the Australia Open, was held in a single day for over eight hours at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport earlier than being taken to a detention resort managed by immigration officers at round 10 a.m. native time, in keeping with Australia's ABC Information.

Will Novak Djokovic Be Deported?

Australian Border Drive (ABF) officers stated in a press release: "Non-citizens who don't maintain a legitimate visa on entry, or who've had their visa cancelled, shall be detained and faraway from Australia."

However Djokovic's deportation has been delayed till 10 a.m. native time Monday, in keeping with ABC Information, after his attorneys launched authorized motion in Australia's Federal Circuit Courtroom to problem the federal government's resolution to cancel his visa.

Why Was Djokovic's Visa Denied?

On Tuesday, the tennis champion tweeted he was heading to Australia for the event with an "exemption permission." However his visa was canceled on the airport as a consequence of not assembly the necessities for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.

The federal government of the Australian state of Victoria, the place the Australian Open is being held, mandated that solely totally vaccinated gamers, employees members, followers and officers can enter the Melbourne Park venue when the event begins on January 17.

Tennis Australia and the Victorian authorities stated Djokovic was one of many " handful" of tennis gamers who have been granted a medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination among the many 26 that utilized for it.

Nonetheless, Australian border officers acknowledged that Djokovic had "failed to supply applicable proof to satisfy the entry necessities to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison instructed reporters that the tennis participant "did not have a legitimate medical exemption. We make the decision on the border, and that is the place it is enforced."

In a tweet Wednesday, Morrison stated: "Guidelines are guidelines, particularly in terms of our borders. Nobody is above these guidelines.

"Our sturdy border insurance policies have been important to Australia having one of many lowest loss of life charges on the planet from COVID, we're persevering with to be vigilant," he added.

Why Was Djokovic Exempt From COVID-19 Vaccination?

Tennis Australia CEO, and Australian Open event director, Craig Tiley stated the nameless software course of for medical exemptions was confidential and run by two unbiased panels of consultants.

The standards for exemptions, that are set out by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI), embrace prior opposed response to vaccines, latest main surgical procedure or myocarditis or licensed proof of a COVID-19 an infection throughout the previous six months, Tiley stated, in keeping with Reuters.

It is unknown which exemption criterion was met by Djokovic and the Serbian athlete has not revealed whether or not he has ever obtained a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

However Djokovic has beforehand acknowledged he's in opposition to getting vaccinated. Throughout a stay Fb chat with a number of fellow Serbian athletes again in April 2020, the tennis participant stated: "Personally I'm against vaccination and I would not wish to be compelled by somebody to take a vaccine so as to have the ability to journey. But when it turns into obligatory, what is going to occur? I should decide."

Two months after making that assertion about his stance on vaccination, Djokovic and his spouse examined optimistic for COVID-19 following a collection of exhibition video games he organized with none social distancing or masking measures in place.

Can Djokovic Play on the 2022 Australian Open?

If Djokovic's attraction to overturn the federal government's cancellation of his visa is profitable, the winner of the 2021 version of the event nonetheless has time to make it to the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.

At a press convention following a gathering with state officers discussing the file degree of COVID-9 infections within the nation, Morrison stated: "We await his [Djokovic's] presentation and what proof he offers us to help that."

"If that proof is inadequate, then he will not be handled any totally different to anybody else and he'll be on the subsequent aircraft dwelling. There ought to be no particular guidelines for Novak Djokovic in any respect. None by any means," the prime minister added.

Novak Djokovic at the 2021 ATP finals.
World No. 1 tennis participant Novak Djokovic seen on the ATP World Tour Finals on November 17, 2021 in Turin, Italy. The tennis champion's visa was canceled at an airport in Melbourne on Wednesday after being instructed he didn't meet entry necessities. Julian Finney/Getty Pictures