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Immigration Minister 'will not cancel Novak Djokovic visa on Monday'

Immigration Minister 'will not cancel Novak Djokovic visa on Monday'
© Reuters
Novak Djokovic is reportedly free to leave immigration detention after Australia's Immigration Minister decided against cancelling his visa on Monday.

Australia's Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has decided not to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa on Monday, according to a report.

The reigning Australian Open champion sparked controversy when he initially travelled to compete at the Grand Slam with a medical exemption from having a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Australian Border Force claimed that Djokovic's medical exemption was insufficient, though, and the Serbian was transported to an immigration detention centre while awaiting an appeal over his cancelled visa.

Judge Anthony Kelly ruled in Djokovic's favour on Monday, meaning that the 34-year-old would be released from immigration detention and have his visa to enter the country reinstated.

Immigration Minister Hawke possesses the personal power to keep Djokovic in detention and re-cancel his visa, but The Age reports that a decision has not been made within the four-hour period.

As a result, Djokovic is free to leave, but the report adds that Hawke is expected to make a decision on the Serbian's visa on Tuesday.

Should Djokovic compete and triumph at this year's Australian Open, he would set a new record of 21 Grand Slam titles won, surpassing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Novak Djokovic in action at the Davis Cup in December 2021
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