Djokovic ‘pleased and grateful’ with court outcome as he sets focus on Australian Open

Following
days
of
uncertainty
regarding
the
world
number
one’s
participation
at
the
Australian
Open,
it
was
ruled
on
Monday
he
should
be
immediately
released
from
detention.

That
came
after
authorities
cancelled
his
visa
last
week,
despite
the
Serbian
being
granted
a
medical
exemption
that
allowed
him
to
enter
the
country,
regardless
of
his
vaccination
status.

The
Australian
Border
Force
declared
Djokovic
must
fly
out
of
the
country
on
Thursday,
sparking
the
challenge
that
went
in
the
tennis
star’s
favour
on
Monday.

Novak
Djokovic
wins
court
battle
to
stay
in
Australia

However,
Australia’s
immigration
minister
Alex
Hawke
could
still
cancel
Djokovic’s
visa
on
new
grounds,
meaning
his
Australian
Open
participation
is
not
yet
100
per
cent
known.

But
speaking
about
the
saga
for
the
first
time
on
Monday,
Djokovic
said
he
remains
hopeful
of
competing
at
Melbourne
Park
next
week.

“I’m
pleased
and
grateful
that
the
Judge
overturned
my
visa
cancellation,”
he
posted
on
his
personal
Twitter
account.

“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.”

In
a
follow-up
tweet
to
his
8.9
million
followers,
Djokovic
added:
“For
now
I
cannot
say
more
but
THANK
YOU
all
for
standing
with
me
through
all
this
and
encouraging
me
to
stay
strong.”

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

@AustralianOpen
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.pic.twitter.com/iJVbMfQ037

—
Novak
Djokovic
(@DjokerNole)

January
10,
2022

Twenty-time
grand
slam
winner
Djokovic
posted
the
message
at
the
same
time
that
his
family
were
holding
a
news
conference
in
Belgrade,
which
he
was
expected
to
join
via
video
link.

Djokovic’s
brother
Djordje
confirmed
that
the
34-year-old
has
already
returned
to
the
practice
court
ahead
of
the
Australian
Open,
which
he
has
won
a
record
nine
times.

After
spending
the
weekend
at
a
detention
hotel
in
Melbourne
as
he
attempted
to
defeat
the
deportation
order,
Djokovic’s
mother
Dijana
accused
the
local
authorities
of
subjecting
her
son
“to
torture
and
harassment”.

Dijana
added:
“This
is
his
biggest
win
in
his
career
–
bigger
than
any
grand
slam.”

Djokovic’s
father
Srdjan
praised
the
mental
strength
of
his
son
and
put
Monday’s
verdict
down
as
a
victory
for
a
wider
cause.

“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,”
he
said.

“They
took
away
all
his
rights,
as
a
human
being.
He
refused
to
revoke
his
visa.
They
gave
him
no
right
to
prepare
his
defence
for
several
hours,
and
they
took
away
his
phone.

“Fortunately
they
gave
him
back
his
phone.
He
contacted
his
legal
team
who
mounted
a
fantastic
defence,
that
they
could
not
match.

“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.

“Justice
and
the
rule
of
law
have
prevailed.
The
judge
who
presided
over
the
case
has
shown
that
not
for
a
second
was
Novak
the
guilty
party.

“The
judge
was
fantastic,
he
simply
respected
the
facts.
He
took
the
only
decision
that
was
possible
which
was
to
release
Novak.”