• Judge rules cancellation of tennis star’s visa ‘unreasonable’
• Immigration Minister could still exercise power to revoke visa
• Drama comes as Australia’s COVID-19 cases top 1 million

MELBOURNE (Reuters): World number one Novak Djokovic was released from Australian immigration detention on Monday after winning a court challenge to remain in the country to pursue his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title at the upcoming Australian Open.

Judge Anthony Kelly ruled the federal government’s decision last week to revoke the tennis star’s visa was “unreasonable” and ordered Djokovic be released.

News of the ruling was greeted with noisy celebrations of drum beating and dancing by a group of around 50 supporters, many draped in the Serbian flag, outside the Melbourne court.

Lawyers for the federal government, however, indicated the fight may not be over, telling the court Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was reserving the right to exercise his personal power to again revoke Djokovic’s visa.

After confirming that such a step, if taken, would bar 34-year-old Djokovic from the country for three years, Kelly warned the government lawyers that “the stakes have now risen, rather than receded.”

Hawke’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Djokovic’s plight has been closely followed around the world, creating diplomatic tensions between Belgrade and Canberra and sparking heated debate over national vaccination rules.

Kelly also ordered the federal government pay legal costs for Djokovic, who spent several days in an immigration detention hotel, noting that his lawyers argued his “personal and professional reputation and his economic interests may be directly affected”.

Djokovic, who was present in his lawyers’ chambers for the hearing, did not immediately appear in public or make a statement after the ruling. The Australian Open starts on 17 January.

Kelly said he had quashed the government 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.

Djokovic’s case had caused anger in Australia, where more than 90% of the adult population is double vaccinated and public opinion has been largely against the player.

Emotions run particularly high in Melbourne, which experienced the world’s longest cumulative lockdown. The country’s COVID-19 cases surpassed 1 million on Monday, with more than half of them recorded in the past week, driving up hospitalisation numbers, straining supply chains and overloading testing facilities.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd accused current leader Scott Morrison’s centre-right coalition government of bungling the situation.

Nadal calls Djokovic controversy “a circus”