Deja vu! Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa CANCELLED after lengthy battle

Novak Djokovic may never play in Australia again, after his visa was officially revoked on Friday.

The 34-year-old is now facing the possibility of being banned from entering Australia until January 2025 as a result of the government’s decision.

But in an inevitable move, lawyers for Djokovic have taken the matter to the Federal Circuit Court on Friday night.

Earlier on Friday, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke confirmed the world number one would be given his marching orders after he arrived in Australia unvaccinated last week.

“Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” he said.

“This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.

“In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic.”

Djokovic’s legal team will likely file an injunction in the Federal Court to fight his deportation.

It remains unclear if the world number one will be placed back in detention and if his case can be heard in time for Monday’s grand slam start.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he supported Mr Hawke’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa.

“This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods,” he said.

“Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected.

“This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today.”

Djokovic had fought his initial deportation in court on Monday and won an extended stay, heading straight to Rod Laver Arena to practice.

But his case remained under investigation, with the Serbian star later admitting that a wrong entry declaration had been made on his visa.

Djokovic arrived in Australia last week, but was put into hotel detention as attempts were made to verify information he submitted on entry.

He was later released after Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly quashed the decision to block his entry into Australia.

The judge said Djokovic was given insufficient time to speak to Tennis Australian officials and lawyers to respond to being told of the intent to cancel his visa.

Mr Hawke said Friday’s decision to deport Djokovic was made in Australia’s best interests.

“The Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“I thank the officers of the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force who work every day to serve Australia’s interests in increasingly challenging operational environments.”

If banned for the three-year period, Djokovic would be just shy of his 38th birthday when able to take part in another Australian Open.

One online poll by the News Corp media group showed that 83 per cent of respondents were backing the decision to deport Djokovic.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said most Australians disapproved of Djokovic’s stance, saying: “Most of us thought because Mr Djokovic hadn’t been vaxxed twice that he would be asked to leave — well, that was our view, but it wasn’t the court’s view.

“The vast majority of Australians ... didn’t like the idea that another individual, whether they’re a tennis player or ... the king of Spain or the Queen of England, can come up here and have a different set of rules to what everybody else has to deal with.”

Top players were also continuing to have their say, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, one of Djokovic’s biggest rivals for the title, asserting on Thursday: “For sure, he’s (Djokovic) been playing by his own rules and has been doing what not many players had the guts to do.

“Especially after the ATP announced certain criteria for players to enter the country.”

Djokovic is a nine-time Australian Open champion, and was gunning for a record 10th title.

But he lost public support after he confirmed he attended social events immediately after contracting COVID last month, and was accused by government sources of delaying tactics in the case that’s garnered global attention.