(CNN) — Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has returned to Australia, according to a Tennis Australia spokesperson, nearly a year after he was denied a visa to enter the country due to his stance on the covid-19 vaccine, in a high-profile case that made headlines around the world.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion is expected to open his 2023 tennis season next week in Adelaide for the Adelaide International 1. His arrival in the country comes more than a month after Australian officials said a ban on the entry of the country to Djokovic for three years would be cancelled.
The Serb was expelled from Australia in January 2022 after former immigration minister Alex Hawke found the tennis star posed a risk to public health and order because, as a sports celebrity he had previously expressed opposition to people, she was forced to get vaccinated against covid-19, could be seen as an “icon” for anti-vaxxers.
Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia in January after former immigration minister Alex Hawke found the tennis star posed a risk to health and public order. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)
The minister’s decision to expel the former tennis player no. 1 in the world meant that he was initially barred from re-entry for three years.
On Monday, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said: “We will welcome you back to Australia.”
“I have a lot of faith in the Australian public. I think we have a very educated sports audience, particularly those who come for the tennis. They love their tennis. They love to see greatness. They love to see great athletics, great matches,” Tiley said of the reception Djokovic should expect from the Australians.
“I’m very confident that the fans will react the way we expect them to react and respect that,” he added.
CNN has reached out to the tennis star for comment.
Djokovic has won nine men’s singles titles at the Australian Open, more than anyone in history. He is signed up to play in the 2023 edition next month.
The Australian Open saga
Djokovic’s high-profile visa saga overshadowed the Australian Open earlier this year, pitting one of tennis’ biggest stars against the Australian government and dividing opinion in the country, which had enacted harsh border restrictions for the pandemic.
The government revoked the Serbian’s visa shortly after arriving in Melbourne on 5 January due to not being vaccinated against covid-19.
Djokovic said he was under the impression he was allowed to enter the country because two independent commissions associated with Tennis Australia and the Victorian state government had granted him a waiver on the basis that he had been infected with the virus just weeks before his I arrive.
Stock photo. Djokovic arrived in Serbia in January 2022 after the Australian federal court upheld the government’s decision to cancel his visa to play at the Australian Open. (Christopher Pike/Reuters)
But the federal government argued that was not a valid reason for an exemption under its rules.
A judge later ruled that border agents had been “unreasonable” when they canceled Djokovic’s visa and ordered his release from an immigration detention center.
But her visa was revoked a second time and after missing the chance to contest the decision, the tennis star left Australia.
Despite his return to select tournament action following the ordeal, the player’s covid-19 vaccination position has limited his participation in other tournaments.
In July, Djokovic won his 21st Grand Slam title, beating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final.
— CNN’s Angus Watson, Rhea Mogul and Jacob Lev contributed to this report.