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Novak Djokovic will go back into detention for the weekend after his deportation was delayed by the Australian government so he can continue his fight to stay in the country and defend his Australian Open title next week

by Vincent Kime (2025-08-22)

Novak Djokovic will go back into detention for the weekend after his deportation was delayed by the Australian government so he can continue his fight to stay in the country and defend his Australian Open title next week.

After the player's visa was today axed for a second time, Djokovic's last-gasp bid to avoid deportation suffered a potential setback Friday, however, when his case was transferred to the Federal Court.

Judge Anthony Kelly - who overturned the original visa cancellation on Monday - said a new court and new judge would have to hear the challenge to the player's visa being cancelled again.

In the meantime, Djokovic will be detained from 8am Saturday except to attend online court hearings at his solicitors' offices, with Border Force officials deployed on the same floor, government lawyer Stephen Lloyd said.

Immigration officials revoked Djokovic's visa saying the world tennis No.

1, who is unvaccinated against COVID-19, may pose a risk to the community, dashing his hopes of competing for his 21st grand slam next week.

But the Serbian's lawyers fought back, arguing in court on Friday night that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had cancelled Djokovic's visa on the grounds his presence in the country might excite anti-vaccination sentiment, and not because he was unvaccinated.

The reasons for Hawke's decision have not yet been published.

The minister's decision was 'patently irrational', Djokovic's lawyer Nicholas Wood told the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, adding that they wanted the challenge to the player's visa revocation to be heard on Sunday, so that he could play in the Australian Open on Monday should the challenge be successful.

Australian Open organizers then confirmed the top half of the men's and women's draws would be contested on Day 1, meaning Djokovic needs to be ready to play on Monday.

It was confirmed by government lawyers that Mr Hawke was not seeking to detain the tennis star overnight, but he would be detained at the Department for Home Affairs and, after spending time with his lawyers preparing his case, he would then be taken back into detention on Saturday night.

Djokovic, the Australian Open defending champion, was included in the tournament's draw on Thursday as top seed and was due to face fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic for his opening match, either on Monday or Tuesday.

The visa cancellation could mean the 34-year-old would be barred from receiving a new Australian visa for three years - except in compelling circumstances that affect Australia's interest - potentially ruling him out of further Australian Opens during those three years.

A video on Friday evening showed a car - believed to be carrying the player - arriving at his lawyer's officers ahead of the hearing being announced.

Mr Wood requested the injunction against the Serbian's removal and appealed for him to be allowed to stay out of immigration detention as the case proceeds. 'We are very concerned about time,' Wood told the emergency hearing. The government told Djokovic's lawyers it had no intention of detaining him tonight.

Australia has cancelled Novak Djokovic 's visa for a second time, the country's immigration minister announced on Friday.

Pictured: Djokovic rests during a training session at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 14, 2022

Pictured: A video on Friday evening showed a car - believed to be carrying Novak Djokovic - arriving at his lawyer's officers ahead of the late night hearing being announced

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