Djoko wins Australia visa case

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic won a stunning victory over the Australian government Monday, overturning the cancellation of his visa and ending five days of detention.

In an emergency online court hearing, the judge ordered that the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa over his Covid-19 vaccination status “be quashed”.

He instructed that the unvaccinated tennis superstar “be released immediately and forthwith from immigration detention”.

It was an extraordinary setback for Australia’s conservative government, which has imposed strict border restrictions for the past two years to halt the spread of Covid.Australian taxpayers will be asked to pay costs for Djokovic’s high-powered legal team.

Several hundred fans dressed in the Serbian national colours thronged to the Melbourne law offices where Djokovic had watched his successful appeal, dancing and chanting his nickname “Nole”.

“It’s a big thing for Serbian culture and community,” said Marijana Djukic, a 20-year-old university student who joined those celebrating across the city.

Police later used pepper spray to disperse fans who mobbed a luxury car leaving the offices. His lawyers and police left the scene shortly afterwards.

The 34-year-old had arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday ahead of the Australian Open, which starts in one week, hoping to win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

But the tournament may yet be out of reach.

The government’s lawyer told the court that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may decide to use his “personal power of cancellation” despite the player’s legal victory.

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal said “it is the fairest thing” for his long-time on-court rival to play in the Australian Open.

“Regardless of whether or not I agree on some things with Djokovic, without any doubt, justice has spoken,” Nadal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.