- Title: Timeline: Djokovic back in practice after winning appeal to stay in Australia
- Date: 10th January 2022
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 11, 2022) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) WIDE OF SENATE HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) RAND PAUL - U.S. SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY, SAYING: "We got something in Wired magazine." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. ANTHONY FAUCI - INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT, SAYING: "No, no, I think in usual fashion Senator, you are distorting everything about me." (Cross talk
- Embargoed: 24th January 2022 20:49
- Keywords: Australia Covid-19 Djokovic Serbia borders court detention immigration refugees tennis vaccination visa
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Australia
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Australia,Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA00AFTOBYO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Novak Djokovic returned to training after being released from Australian immigration detention on Monday (January 10), where he had been since Thursday (January 6), after a dispute over his medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirements to play.
Djokovic tweeted a photograph of himself on court at the Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park with a caption thanking the judge who released him.
"I'm pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete in the Australian Open," the Serbian wrote on Twitter, posting a picture with his team on court at Melbourne Park.
"I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans."
Djokovic is aiming to lift a 21st major at the Australian Open, which gets under way on Jan. 17 to nudge ahead of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, with whom he is currently tied on 20.
The player's family said his release was the "biggest victory of his life."
Earlier on Monday, an Australian judge ruled that Djokovic be released from immigration detention immediately, finding the government's decision to revoke the tennis star's visa to enter the country was "unreasonable."
Judge Anthony Kelly ordered Djokovic be freed within 30 minutes and his passport and other personal documents returned to him, rekindling the world number one's bid to win a record 21st Grand Slam title at the upcoming Australian Open.
Kelly, who earlier in proceedings had criticised the hours-long questioning of Djokovic at Melbourne's airport when he landed on Wednesday (January 5), said both the interview and the visa cancellation "was unreasonable."
Djokovic was not given enough time to speak to tennis organisers and lawyers to respond fully after he was notified of the intent to cancel his visa, the judge said.
Lawyers for the federal government told the court the country's immigration minister was reserving the right to exercise his personal power to again revoke Djokovic's visa.
After confirming that such a step, if taken, would bar Djokovic from the country for three years, Kelly warned the government lawyers that "the stakes have now risen, rather than receded.
The fight over his medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination may not be over, however, as the Australian government said it was still considering another move to deport him.
Djokovic supporters lingered in the streets of Melbourne on Monday evening after earlier chaotic scenes when crowds surged around a car thought to be carrying the tennis star from his lawyers' offices.
Pro-refugee protesters rallied outside the police-guarded Park Hotel, where Djokovic was believed to be in Melbourne.
Wider public opinion in Australia has been largely against the player and not everyone greeted Djokovic's release with celebration.
Spanish rival Rafael Nadal called the drama surrounding the build-up to the tournament a "circus".
"Whether or not I agree with Djokovic on some things, justice has spoken and has said that he has the right to participate in the Australian Open and I think it is the fairest decision," Nadal told Spanish radio Onda Cero.
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