The reason why Djokovic to miss Australian Open for the next three years
MELBOURNE – World number one men's singles tennis player Novak Djokovic might have won his nine Australian Open titles in his career so far. However, the 34 year-old Serbian has been forced to miss the first tennis major championship event due to his visa cancelation, or he's not being vaccinated.
- Summary
On 14 January 2022, Alex Hawke, Australia's Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, exercised his ministerial powers under the Migration Act 1958 to cancel Djokovic's visa, citing "health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so". Djokovic applied for a judicial review of the decision, but three Federal Court of Australia judges unanimously dismissed his application on 16 January with costs, preventing his participation in the 2022 Australian Open. Djokovic said he was "extremely disappointed" with the decision but accepted the ruling, and flew out of Australia to Dubai that night. Because Djokovic was removed from Australia using ministerial powers under the Migration Act, he is now barred from returning to Australia for three years. However, since each visa application is reviewed on its merits, the ban can be waived in certain circumstances if he satisfies the conditions of a visa.
- Sources:
