Novak Djokovic wins court battle to stay in Australia following visa row

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Tennis star Novak Djokovic has won his appeal to remain in Australia. Judge Anthony Kelly ruled Djokovic's visa cancellation order to be "quashed" immediately, rekindling the Serbian's hopes of playing in the Australian Open.

The government will also pay the sportsman’s legal costs. Djokovic has endured a nightmare time upon his arrival in Australia, after dramatically having his visa rejected by border control at Melbourne Airport despite being granted to play at the first Grand Slam of the year through a medical exemption.His medical exemption was met by huge backlash across the tennis community after he refused to share his vaccination status, hinting he hadn't been fully jabbed which was a mandate to compete in Melbourne at the Australian Open.The world number one was denied entry at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday and sent to an immigration detention hotel.But judge Kelly ordered Djokovic be released within 30 minutes and his passport and other travel documents returned to him, rekindling the world number one's chance to win a record 21st Grand Slam title at the upcoming Australian Open.He agreed that officials 'failed to give valid notice of the intention to cancel the visa' despite government officials arguing that Djokovic's recent Covid infection does not make him exempt.However, 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.Under Australia's immigration law, the minister has exceptional powers and discretion to cancel visas for whatever reason but no grounds under which Djokovic's visa could be cancelled again were detailed.The visa saga has gripped the sporting world in recent days,