Status: 01/16/2022 04:10 a.m
It is supposed to be the final chapter in the Djokovic case: a federal court in Melbourne, Australia, is negotiating whether the Serbian tennis star can stay in the country. The decision expected in the next few hours should no longer be contestable.
A federal court in Melbourne has been hearing about the Novak Djokovic case for several hours. The Serbian tennis professional had appealed after his visa was withdrawn again. First, Djokovic’s side put forward their line of argument. The Australian government side then had the floor.
After about three hours, the judges and lawyers involved for Djokovic and the Australian government in Australia took a break. The session was to be suspended for an hour. After that, the government side continued its remarks.
Djokovic apparently switched on
Three judges decide whether the world number one can stay in the country and take part in the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Monday, or whether he has to leave the country. The session will be broadcast online. It should be possible to complete the procedure at “lunchtime”, it was said at the beginning.
As the Australian news agency AAP reports, Djokovic is following the meeting from his lawyers’ office in Melbourne. The record winner of the Australian Open spent the night before the hearing in the federal court in a deportation hotel.
case with many twists
Djokovic’s visa was revoked for the second time on Friday. Not vaccinated against the coronavirus, he is a controversial figure in the country that has imposed tough rules since the pandemic began. When the authorities refused him entry last week, he was also temporarily taken to a deportation hotel. An initial court decision on Monday was in his favour, Djokovic then continued preparing for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.