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Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised special powers to cancel tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time on Friday, saying it was “in the public interest to do so.” The world number one tennis player's appeal will be heard by the Federal Court of Australia on Sunday, the day before the Australian Open is set to begin.
Last year, Djokovic opened as the +110 favorite. Ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev were coming in at +150 and +300 (3-1) odds, respectively. Most books are not offering odds on Djokovic as of Friday.
Lawyers argued Djokovic's visa has been cancelled out of fear of 'anti-vax sentiment' and that the Serbian my whip up fellow anti-vaxxers in the country.
Oliver Brown, Chief Sports Writer, The Telegraph, appeared on CNN International to question this theory being that Djokovic has not offered any recent commentary on the subject while in Australia.
My interview with CNN on the ramifications of Djokovic's second visa cancellation – and why Australia is simply scrambling for any pretext to throw him out https://t.co/0IyeTRfKHm
— Oliver Brown (@oliverbrown_tel) January 14, 2022
Former British number one, Jo Durie, says the whole matter concerning Djokovic and his visa is a "mess" and is distracting from some "great tennis taking place"
"It's absolute turmoil!"
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 14, 2022
Former British number one, Jo Durie, says the whole matter concerning Novak Djokovic and his visa is a "mess" and is distracting from some "great tennis taking place" in the #AusOpen.https://t.co/4PUyb24HFW
Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 + YouTube pic.twitter.com/Xm2pRmPCD1
While Durie agrees there are consequences when it comes to taking a firm stance on vaccination policy, but notes he was allowed the Visa by the Australian government.
"That is why he flew," she said during an interview with Sky News. "so surely in the beginning with hindsight maybe they should have said 'sorry, if you are not vaccinated, you just can't come and play."
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
