Djokovic is taking legal action against expulsion from Australia

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Novak Djokovic when he last participated in the Australian Open in February 2021

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WILLIAM WEST / AFP

The Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic wants to take legal action against his expulsion from Australia after the cancellation of his entry visa.

According to the court, a judge wanted to hear his objection to the threatened deportation at 4 p.m. (6 a.m. CET).

Djokovic had traveled to Australia with a controversial medical exemption and landed in Melbourne late Wednesday evening (local time) to take part in the Australian Open. The tournament starts on January 17th. However, the Australian border protection authorities denied him regular entry - and instead had the 34-year-old brought to a hotel for those obliged to leave the country. Djokovic should start the journey home on Thursday.

"The visa for Novak Djokovic has been canceled," confirmed Australia's Minister of Health Greg Hunt on Thursday morning (local time). Djokovic had not been able to show that he met the entry requirements, so "the visa was subsequently canceled," said the statement from the border protection authority.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had defended the decision.

"Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders," wrote Morrison on Thursday morning, Australian time on Twitter.

Nobody is above the law.

Djokovic has still not made his vaccination status public.

If he were vaccinated, he would not need a special permit.

The Serbian President intervenes

The approval given by tournament organizers after Djokovic's application was approved by two medical bodies sparked anger and misunderstanding in Australia.

The country has been battling bans and restrictions due to the pandemic for two years and has long had some of the toughest travel restrictions in the world.

In Serbia, the news of Djokovic's treatment caused a public outcry.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram that he had spoken to Djokovic on the phone and told him that "all of Serbia is with him".

The Serbian authorities would "take all measures to stop the abuse of the best tennis player in the world as soon as possible."

Djokovic has already won the Australian Open nine times and was determined to compete as defending champion this time as well.

If he had won, he would have left his competitors Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal behind with Grand Slam triumph number 21.

ngo / dpa / afp / sid