Tennis: Djokovic strikes back and files an appeal against his deportation from Australia

The soap opera continues.

And the tone rises sternly.

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic challenged the Australian authorities' decision to cancel his visa and expel him from the country on Thursday, a new episode in a saga that turned into a diplomatic incident.

According to a judicial source, a Melbourne magistrate, Anthony Kelly, was due to examine Thursday at 4:00 p.m. (05:00 GMT) the request of the Serbian, detained by immigration services in Melbourne since his arrival Wednesday evening with the intention of participating in the Australian Open.

Djokovic's incredible trip “

” sparked a diplomatic incident, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accusing Australia of “

” of the champion.

Djokovic was all smiles to announce his departure for Melbourne on his Instagram account Tuesday.

But the Serb, who had opposed compulsory vaccination and whose vaccination status is unknown, was finally disillusioned.

His visa was canceled, with Australian Customs explaining that "

" and that "

”.

The fate reserved for "

" has gone badly on the side of Serbia.

Its president Aleksandar Vucic, declaring that he spoke to the world No.1 on the phone, wrote on Instagram that "

" and that "

”.

- "

" -

Djokovic, silent on his vaccination status, was already in the crosshairs of the Australian political class since he announced that he had obtained a medical exemption to participate in the Australian Open (January 17-30).

If the evidence to support this waiver is "

", then Djokovic "

," warned Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley, also director of the first Grand Slam of the year, however claimed that the world No.1 was not given any preferential treatment to obtain the waiver, in a supervised process. by the Australian authorities and those of the State of Victoria.

A total of 26 players or members of their staff, out of the 3,000 expected in Australia, have requested an exemption and only a few of them have obtained it, he revealed.

According to Mr. Tiley, the two commissions responsible for examining exemption requests do so without knowing the identity of the applicants.

Already winner of 20 Grand Slams, like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic was aiming for a record 21st title in Melbourne.

The Australian Open is his favorite tournament: it is in Melbourne that the Serbian won his first Grand Slam (2008), and no player has won there as much as him (nine wins).

For months, "

" had cast doubt on his participation in the first Grand Slam of the year, due to the obligation for players to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Australia.

Djokovic spoke in April 2020 against compulsory vaccination, then considered to allow the resumption of tournaments.

“

, ”he said at the time.

He finally announced Tuesday that he had obtained a medical exemption allowing him to make the trip to Australia.

The country's regulations provide for this type of exemption in five specific cases (having contracted the Covid in the previous six months, serious medical contraindication ...) but the federation, invoking medical confidentiality, refused to say which applied to Djokovic.

Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic posted a photo on Instagram of him and other members of his staff waiting at the airport while the player was questioned by immigration officials.

“

,” commented the former Wimbledon champion.

mp / roc / nzg / ybl