Novak Djokovic 'grateful' to win appeal but Australian government could still revoke visa

World No 1 had been in a detention centre since Thursday after being denied entry to Australia by border forces

Members of the media waiting for a sighting of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic surround a departing transport vehicle exiting the Park Hotel, where the athlete has been held during a legal challenge over his visa, in Melbourne, Australia. Reuters

A supporter of Serbian Novak Djokovic holds placards outside an immigration detention hotel where Djokovic is confined in Melbourne. AP

Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rally outside the Federal Court of Australia. Reuters

Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rally outside the Federal Court of Australia. Reuters

Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rally outside the Federal Court of Australia. Reuters

A refugee advocate writes a slogan on the wall outside the Park Hotel, used as an immigration detention hotel. AP

Police arrest a refugee advocate at the Park Hotel. AP

A man gestures in a window of the Park Hotel, where Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is believed to be held in Melbourne. Reuters

Supporters of Serbian's tennis player Novak Djokovic hold national flags during a rally in front of Serbia's National Assembly, in Belgrade. AFP

Supporters hold a banner reading "Let's go Nole (Novak)" with a picture of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, during a rally in front of Serbia's National Assembly, in Belgrade. AFP

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic's father Srdjan Djokovic (R) speaks flanked by his wife Dijana Djokovic (L), as they take part in a rally in front of Serbia's National Assembly, in Belgrade. AFP

Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic hold Serbian flags during a protest of support in Belgrade. EPA

Novak Djokovic said he is "grateful" to the judge who overturned his cancelled visa as the world No 1 made his way straight to the practice courts after winning a court challenge on Monday to remain in Australia.

The fight over Djokovic's medical exemption from Covid-19 vaccination may not be over, though, as the Australian government said it was still considering another move to deport him.

"I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation," Djokovic, 34, posted on Twitter. "Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete 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.

"For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU all for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong."

Earlier, Judge Anthony Kelly had ruled the federal government's decision last week to revoke the Serbian tennis star's visa amid was "unreasonable" and ordered his release.

"Novak is free and just a moment ago he went to the tennis court to practice," Djokovic's brother Djordje told a family news conference in Belgrade. "He's out there to set another record."

Djokovic, who arrived in Australia last week in pursuit of a record 21st Grand Slam title and record-extending 10th title at the Australian Open – which starts on January 17 – had spent the day at his lawyers' chambers.

There were chaotic scenes on Monday evening as supporters who had gathered outside the lawyers' office chanting "Free Novak!" surged around a black car with tinted windows leaving the building, while police at one stage used pepper spray as they tried to clear a path.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said he was considering using his broad discretionary powers he is given by Australia's Migration Act to again revoke Djokovic's visa.

The controversy has been closely followed around the world, creating diplomatic tensions between Belgrade and Canberra and sparking heated debate over national vaccination rules.

Serbia's parliamentary speaker, Ivica Dacic, said he was concerned Hawke could still deport Djokovic, a move that would bar the 34-year-old from the country for three years.

"The process should have ended when the court ruled on the matter," Dacic told Serbia's Happy TV. "It defies common sense."

Judge Kelly said he had quashed the decision to block Djokovic's entry to Australia because the player was not given enough time to speak to tennis organisers and lawyers to respond fully after he was notified of the intent to cancel his visa.

Officials at Melbourne's airport, where Djokovic had been detained on arrival late on Wednesday, reneged on an agreement to give Djokovic until 8.30am to speak to tournament organiser Tennis Australia and lawyers, Kelly said.

Djokovic was instead woken by officials around 6am after a brief rest and said he felt pressured to respond. The player, long an opponent of mandatory vaccination, told border officials he was unvaccinated and had contracted Covid-19 twice, according to a transcript of the interview.

Kelly earlier told the court it appeared Djokovic had sought and received the required medical exemption from Covid-19 vaccination on the basis that he had contracted the virus last month. He had presented evidence of this before he travelled to Melbourne and when he landed on Wednesday evening.

"What more could this man have done?" Kelly said.

Kelly's ruling did not directly address the issue of whether the exemption on the grounds of an infection in the past six months was valid, which the government had disputed.

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said earlier that his organisation had spoken with federal and state officials for months to ensure the safe passage of players.

Though news of the ruling was greeted with drums and dancing by around 50 supporters outside the Melbourne court, wider public opinion in Australia, where more than 90 per cent of the adult population is double vaccinated, has been largely against the player.

The country's Covid-19 cases surpassed one million on Monday, with more than half recorded in the past week, driving up hospitalisation numbers, straining supply chains and overloading testing facilities.

The saga kicked off when Djokovic posted a photo of himself leaning on his luggage on Instagram last Tuesday, telling the world he was headed to Australia with a vaccination exemption.