Novak Djokovic set to be allowed to play 2023 Australian Open with government to ‘overturn’ visa ban
Novak Djokovic is set to be allowed to play the Australian Open after his visa ban has reportedly been overturned.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner was deported from the country in January after having his visa cancelled.
The unvaccinated tennis star entered the country on the grounds of a recent COVID diagnosis. But then immigration minister, Alex Hawke, decided to revoke his visa on the basis his anti-vax stance may provoke ‘civil unrest’.
As his visa was cancelled, it carried a three-year ban but the reports that new immigration minister Andrew Giles will grant Djokovic a visa.
The 36-year-old is a nine-time Australian Open winner, but has been staunch in his view that he will not get the COVID vaccine even if that costs him the chance to play in Grand Slams.
He saw Rafael Nadal overtake him in the race, winning the 2022 Australian and French Opens.
Djokovic won Wimbledon to take him to 21, but he was not allowed to participate in the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz went on to win that tournament and claim his first even Grand Slam title.
Most read in Sport
Australian Open director, Craig Tiley, recently spoke about his hope that Djokovic would come back to Melbourne in the near future.
He said: “That’s entirely up to the Australian government. I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.
“He loves Australia and it’s where he’s had the best success but the timing [on any announcement] is up to somebody else and we’ll just play that one by ear.”
Djokovic told reporters on Tuesday at the ATP Tour Finals that he had not heard anything from the Australian government just yet.
“We are waiting,” he said. “They are communicating with the government of Australia. That’s all I can tell you for now.”