Djokovic leaves detention hotel and is escorted to trial site in Australia

the tennis player Novak Djokovic left the hotel of detention on Sunday morning (16), in Australia, and went to the hearing in a federal court that will decide if he can stay in the country and defend his Open title.

Djokovic was escorted from the hotel, accompanied by Australian immigration officials at around 8:30 am local time.

After a 10-day roller coaster ride across the country that saw the Serbian champion detained by immigration authorities, released and then detained again, his fate was in the hands of three judges who preside over the hearing scheduled to begin at 9:30am.

Preparation for the Open tennis tournament, which starts on Monday, has been overshadowed by the drama of the tennis player not having been vaccinated. Spaniard Rafael Nadal, tied with Djokovic for 20 Grand Slam titles, was one of several top players who said they just wanted the “circus to end”.

Djokovic spent Saturday night at Melbourne’s Park Hotel, returning to the same immigrant detention hotel where he was detained for four nights last week.

A judge released him after ruling that the decision to cancel his arrival visa was unreasonable. Djokovic refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus and tried to enter the country with a medical exemption from the rules that require all visitors to be vaccinated.

Djokovic is appealing Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s use of discretionary powers to cancel his visa again, claiming it was a threat to public order.

The virtual hearing is expected to pit lawyers for Djokovic and the government against each other in a discussion over the number one tennis player’s role in promoting anti-vaccination sentiment.

tired of the situation

Court documents released after an initial hearing on Saturday showed Hawke justified his decision on the grounds that Djokovic’s presence could spur more anti-vaccination sentiment in Australia at a time when the country is in the midst of its worst outbreak in history. virus.

“While I accept that Djokovic poses a negligible individual risk of transmitting Covid-19 to others, I still consider his presence to be a health risk to the Australian community,” Hawke said in a letter to Djokovic and his legal team.

Djokovic’s lawyers said they would argue that deportation would only increase anti-vaccine sentiment and be as much a threat to disorder and public health as letting him stay.

Djokovic’s medical exemption from vaccine requirements to play at the Open has sparked widespread outrage in Australia, which has experienced some of the toughest Covid-19 lockdowns in the world and where more than 90% of adults are vaccinated but where rates of hospitalizations continue to reach records.

The tennis player controversy has become a political watershed for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he prepares for an election scheduled for May.

His government has gained support at home for its tough stance on border security during the pandemic, but has faced criticism for handling Djokovic’s visa application.

Djokovic’s main rivals are increasingly impatient with the uncertainty hanging over the draw and the cloud hanging over their sport.

“I’m honestly a little tired of the situation because I believe it’s important to talk about our sport, about tennis,” Spaniard Rafa Nadal, who is tied for 20 major titles with Djokovic, told reporters at Melbourne Park, where the event will be held. reproduced.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev, world number three, said Djokovic was treated unfairly and that the Serb may have been used as a political pawn by Australian authorities, something Canberra denied.

“This is obviously not a good thing for everyone, especially him,” Zverev said. “But don’t question your legacy over it.”