Novak Djokovic is cleared to play at next year’s Australian Open after the federal government overturned his visa ban, according to a report in Australia.
The Serbian, currently in action at the year-ending ATP Finals, was deported just before the 2022 edition started and saw his visa cancelled “in the public interest”.
However, the Sydney Morning Herald state sources close to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles have said Djokovic will be granted a visa, overturning his automatic three-year ban.
Australian Open director Craig Tiley had said earlier on Tuesday that he was still awaiting a decision but was not expecting “preferential treatment” for the player.
“There’s a normal visa application process that everyone is going through right now, and everyone will go through the right timing,” Tiley told AAP.
“I don’t think there should be any preferential treatment for anyone. But I fully expect to have an answer for everyone by the time that they need to book their flights and come in, including Novak.
“That’s entirely up to the Australian government. I know Novak wants to come and play and to get back to competing.
“He loves Australia and it’s where he’s had the best success but the timing [on any announcement] is up to somebody else and we’ll just play that one by ear.”
Djokovic is not vaccinated for Covid-19, which prompted the January saga ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, but Australian travel rules now state that you do not need proof of a Covid-19 vaccine to travel to and from the country.
—Eurosport
