NOVAK DJOKOVIC is waiting to find out if he can compete in this year's Australian Open after winning a court appeal to stay in the country.
The Serb isn't vaccinated for Covid-19 and was denied entry into Australia last week despite obtaining an exemption against the jab.
And despite winning his appeal today, there are reports suggesting he may have his visa re-cancelled by the Australian government.
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Read our Novak Djokovic live blog below for ALL the latest updates…
- Sandra Brobbey
Novak is number one
Novak Djokovic has been listed as the men's No.1 seed at the Australian Open despite uncertainty concerning his involvement in the tournament.
On Monday, a judge quashed the Australian government's decision to cancel the Serb's visa.
An order was also made for him to be freed from a temporary immigration detention facility in Melbourne.
However, the world No. 1 could still end up being deported.
CNN reports Australia's immigration minister is considering intervening to have the tennis player removed from the country.
- Sandra Brobbey
Djokovic investigated over travel claims
Novak Djokovic is to be investigated amid claims he falsely stated he had not travelled before his flight to Australia to defend his Australian Open title
Australia Border Force officials are looking into details provided on his travel declaration form, according to ITV News.
The men's world number one jetted to Melbourne from Spain on January 4, but had appeared in photos shared on social media from Belgrade on Christmas Day.
Portuguese tennis reporter, Jose Morgado posted a tweet of the photo of Djokovic posing with handball ace Petar Djordjic.
- Sandra Brobbey
Kyrgios 'embarrassed'
Nick Krygios reportedly feels 'embarrassed' to be an Australian following the visa controversy concerning Novak Djokovic.
And the Aussie ace has hit out at media for what he perceives as divisive coverage of the debacle, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Krygios, who tested positive ahead of the Australian Open, said: “We know that the media like to create sh**-storms, with my story and everything going on with Novak.
“I feel quite embarrassed as an Australian athlete who’s seen what this guy has done for us and for the sport.
"I just don’t think it’s right how we’re handling it, but the media loves to do that, loves to divide.”
- Dylan Terry
Good morning tennis fans
Novak Djokovic was elated with the decision that allows him to play in the Australian Open and is now focused on competing in-front of his loyal legion of fans.
After all the controversy, the Serb tweeted: “I’m pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation.
“Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete at the Australian Open.
“I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.”
Meanwhile, his mother Dijana Djokovic claimed that her son’s court victory against the Australian government is bigger than any of his Grand Slam titles thus far.
She beamed: “This is his biggest win in his career, it is bigger than any Grand Slam.”
However, the proceedings didn’t go smoothly as hackers targeted Djokovic’s court hearing with a porn video that was screened just moments before the judge ruled he can enter the country.
And finally, Piers Morgan wasn’t in the mood to show Djokovic any sympathy after his ordeal.
Djokovic’s mother claimed he had been subject to ‘torture’ while being held, and this didn’t sit well with Piers who quipped on Twitter: “Poor guy. Sounds almost worse than having a simple 2-second vaccine injection.”
- Justin Lawrence
'We're a laughing stock'
An Australian lawyer claims the country are the laughing stock of the world after the Djokovic spectacle.
Thomson Geer partner Justin Quill said, reported by 9news: "We [Australia] are the laughing stock of the world right now.
"In circumstances where we should be showcasing Australia, we're doing the exact opposite."
- Justin Lawrence
Djokovic's an 'anti-vaxx hero'
Bologna FC boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has accused Australia's government for turning Djokovic into an 'anti-vaxx hero'
He said Corriere dello Sport: "To me, Djokovic is a victim, he is not the man responsible for this mess. I
"t's ridiculous to the world's No 1-ranked male tennis player locked inside a deportation hotel, even if that could shed light on the condition of asylum seekers.
"They should have respected the rules. By doing what they did, they made Djokovic become an anti-vaxx hero."
- Justin Lawrence
Boris Johnson tells athletes – 'get vaccinated'
Prime minister Boris Johnson has urged all athletes to get vaccinated in the wake of Djokovic's debacle in Australia.
Johnson said: "Look, I think it's important for the Australian authorities to make their own dispositions.
"All I would say about Novak Djokovic, against whom I have played tennis actually—he's pretty good—is that I believe in vaccination and I think it's a wonderful thing to do.
"I think everybody should get behind a programme that is allowing this country to be the most open economy in Europe and simultaneously to protect people up and down the land, so it has massive advantages."
- Justin Lawrence
Briton slams Djokovic ruling
A British woman has blasted the decision to let Djokovic into Australia.
Devon resident Kate Allen has been separated from her brother for three years due to the country’s strict covid rules.
And she feels Djokovic shouldn't be treated any different to her sibling regardless of his superstar status.
She raged, reported by inews: "If there is proof the average tourist could have the same result [as Djokovic] then I won’t smash my tennis racket on the floor.
"But frankly it feels like one rule for them and another for us.”
- Justin Lawrence
Piers ridicules Djokovic 'torture' claims
Piers Morgan has mocked Djokovic's mother's claims that her son was 'tortured' during his Covid passport debacle in Australia.
After Djokovic was granted permission to play at the Australian Open, his mother said: “Novak was subject to torture, harassment. We will hear even more about what he has gone through.”
However, Piers was in no mood to be sympathetic towards Djokovic.
He sarcastically quipped in response on Twitter: "Poor guy. Sounds almost worse than having a simple 2-second vaccine injection.”
- Justin Lawrence
Navratilova refuses to support Djokovic
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has refused to support Djokovic's decision to remain unvaccinated.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: "It’s unbelievable, what a saga. It could have been avoided. I just wish Novak had taken that vaccination to begin with.
“I admire him so much but I can’t defend the choice to not get vaccinated.
“We’re in such close contact in the locker rooms. I couldn’t wait to get vaccinated. I admire Novak and I know what it takes to be that committed.
“I would be much more scared of getting sick from not being vaccinated than whatever side effects I might have from the vaccination. You really need to be more aware of everybody else.”
- Justin Lawrence
Djokovic court hearing hacked with Porn
Hackers targeted Novak Djokovic's court hearing as a porn video was screened just moments before the judge ruled he can enter Australia.
The public was able to watch online the court hearing that was conducted virtually via links between the judge's office and the government's and Djokovic's lawyers.
However, some were able to hack the links and stream porn and music.
The legal proceedings started at 10am on Monday as Djokovic’s lawyers presented their case to Judge Anthony Kelly.
The system crashed a few times as more and more people logged into the live feed.
Just moments before the process started, journalists who clicked on a Microsoft Teams link provided by the court, that had expired, came across porn images and music.
News Corp's head of digital sports, Emily Benammar, tweeted: "Porn: The one thing this whole Djokovic saga had been missing."
- Kealan Hughes
'Thanks for standing with me'
Novak Djokovic has shared his appreciation for all the support he has received during the turmoil.
He also revealed his delight at being the opportunity to play at the Australian Open.
Djokovic tweeted: "I am pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation.
"Despite all that has happened in the past week, I want to stay and to try to compete at the Australian Open. I remain focused on that.
"I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of amazing fans.
"For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong
- Kealan Hughes
Family tight-lipped on positive test
The Djokovic family ended their press conference after being asked about Novak Djokovic's positive PCR test on December 16.
The Serbian attended public events after testing positive – including an indoor public gathering where he met a group of children.
But Djordje could not provide any information on the matter and instead called an end to the press conference
It then ended with the family linking arms and singing a song with patriotic lyrics: "I am coming from Serbia, never leaving it."
- Kealan Hughes
More from Novak on Twitter
The tennis star added on Twitter: "For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong."
The Australian Open starts on January 19 and Djokovic will now be aiming to win his tenth title.
- Kealan Hughes
Djokovic hearing disrupted by hackers
Hackers targeted Novak Djokovic's court hearing as a porn video was screened just moments before the judge ruled he can enter Australia.
It comes following claims the tennis star was arrested after his anti-vax court win as his supporters clashed with police who used pepper spray to control them.
The public was able to watch online the court hearing that was conducted virtually via links between the judge's office and the government's and Djokovic's lawyers.
However, some were able to hack the links and stream porn and music.
The legal proceedings started at 10am on Monday as Djokovic’s lawyers presented their case to Judge Anthony Kelly. The system crashed a few times as more and more people logged into the live feed.
Just moments before the process started, journalists who clicked on a Microsoft Teams link provided by the court, that had expired, came across porn images and music.
- Kealan Hughes
'Very very difficult for everyone'
Novak Djokovic's father Srdan has also thanks the public for their support, stating the rule of law has prevailed.
He thanked the judge for the ruling while condemning the actions taken by the Australian government.
He said: "Over the past few days, it’s been very, very difficult for everyone in the world who is free thinking. But he is mentally extremely, extremely strong.
"They took away all his rights his rights, as a human being. He refused to revoke his visa.
"This is a huge win for Novak, his family and the free world. He respected everything that was asked of him. He only wanted to go there to play tennis and that right he wanted to take away from them.
"Justice and the rule of law have prevailed. The judge who presided over the case has shown that not for second was Novak the guilty party."
- Kealan Hughes
'We are fighters for justice'
Djokovic's brother Djordje thanks the judge who ruled in Novak's favour and revealed he has been back in training.
Djordje said: "We as a family found it very difficult, we are very emotional about my brother. It’s very difficult to defend Novak and not to offend anyone at the same time.
"We are fighters for justice and rule of law. We have done everything we could to follow procedures and to show everyone in the world we need to send love to Novak."
"Novak is free. A few minutes ago, he trained on a tennis court. He came to Australia to play tennis, to try and win another Australian Open.
"He has been branded in different ways for many years and he has always supported freedom of choice."
- Kealan Hughes
'Bigger than any Grand Slam'
Dijana Djokovic, Novak's mother, has thanked the public for the support shown towards her son.
She described the court's ruling in Novak's favour as the biggest of his career as he had to fight against the system in Australia.
She said: "I want to thank everyone in the world who stood up and supported him in Melbourne in front of that so-called hotel.
"This is his biggest win in his career, it is bigger than any Grand Slam.
“He has done nothing wrong, he hasn’t broken any of their laws. He has been subject to harassment.
“He fought against the system and the government because he had the right to be there.
“Never before have we faced a situation like this."
- Kealan Hughes
Djokovic breaks Australian Open silence
Djokovic tweeted: "I’m pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation.
"Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete at the Australian Open
"I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans."
- Kealan Hughes
'It absolutely stinks' says Castle
Andrew Castle believes the politics involved in Novak Djokovic's case has sparked the chaos surrounding it.
He told Sky Sports: "The CEO of tennis Australia Craig Tiley who has been trying to dance between the diff forces. He asked the fed gov in November apparently to give him guidance to assess the application for medical exemption.
"I think he was utterly vindicated by the court. This has nothing to do with vaccination.
"The way Novak has been treated is much different to the Czech player Renata Voracova
"The judge Anthony Kelly has said the visa cancellation should not stand and the immigration minister could go over that – you could call that state overreach.
"We would be naive to think there is no politics in this. It absolutely stinks from the Australian government – it doesn't seem right to me."
- Kealan Hughes
Novak is 'best under pressure'
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli told the BBC Novak Djokovic may be mentally drained after the events of the past few days.
Bartoli said: "I think he can work his way through the first week and build his momentum towards the second week, it's more how mentally and psychologically he will be affected by all of this.
"He is really his best when he is under pressure and in tougher circumstances, but it is more about how the crowd are going to react.
"If he has the whole stadium against him booing or whatever. How much is that going to affect him? It's really hard to tell in advance."
- Kealan Hughes
More footage of Djokovic support
- Kealan Hughes
Djokovic could face long wait
Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, will not make a decision on whether to re-cancel Novak Djokovic's visa, according to The Guardian.
A spokesman for Hawke said: “Following today’s Federal Circuit … determination on a procedural ground, it remains within immigration minister Hawke’s discretion to consider cancelling Mr Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation within section 133C(3) of the Migration Act.
"The minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing.”
Hawke has time to make his decision and he could re-cancel the visa as long as there is grounds to do so and it is in the public interest.
- Kealan Hughes
Worry Djokovic could be deported
Serbia's parliamentary speaker, Ivica Dacic, is concerned Novak Djokovic could still be deported from Australia despite winning his court case over his visa and vaccination exemption.
A court quashed the cancellation of Djokovic's visa to enter the country, with the Serb denied entry even though the Australian Open granted him health exemption.
Dacic told Happy TV: "The process should have ended when the court ruled on the matter.
"The Australian authorities have obviously chosen to deport him, which also includes a three-year ban on entering Australia. It defies common sense."
- Kealan Hughes
Police pepper-spray Djokovic supporters
A crowd gathering in support of Novak Djokovic in Melbourne has reportedly been pepper-sprayed by police.
Chants of "Free Novak!" could be heard with many Serbia flags on display.
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