The Federal Circuit Court of Australia on Monday rejected a decision by Australian border officials who ruled that Serb tennis ace Novac Djokovic did not meet the criteria for a Covid-19 vaccination exemption to entry requirements.
Djokovic, who donated $25 000 to help Australia during the deadly bushfires in 2020, was given a Covid-19 vaccine medical exemption to enter Australia because he contracted the illness last month.
However, overzealous border control officials took exception and erroneously cancelled Djokovic’s visa citing the lack of documented medical proof.
But on Monday the court in Melbourne found that Djokovic had complied with all the rules and rejected a decision by Australian immigration authorities that the tennis star didn’t meet the rules for an exemption to an entry.
Djokovic had been held at a deportation centre since his arrival in Australia on 5 January, where he was deprived of training facilities.
But the court ruling means Djokovic will stay in Australia and defend his Grand Slam title and possibly make history.
The 34-year-old has won 20 Grand Slams (major) titles, tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most slams won in tennis history by male players.
The Australian Open 2022 qualifying competition begins today.
