Djokovic loses visa appeal, leaves country ahead of Australian Open

By Hilary Whiteman, Julia Hollingsworth, Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN

Updated 3:51 p.m. ET, January 16, 2022

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3:09 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

Djokovic confirms he is leaving: "I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open."

Novak Djokovic confirmed he would not be playing in the Australian Open. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

In a statement released after his appeal was dismissed on Sunday, Novak Djokovic said he would cooperate with authorities in arranging his departure from the country and confirmed he would not be playing in the Australian Open.

He said that while he was "extremely disappointed" in the judge's decision, "I respect the Court’s ruling and I'll cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from Australia."

He will now take time to rest and recuperate, he added, wishing good luck to fans, staff and players at the Australian Open.

Read Djokovic's full statement:

"I would like to make a brief statement to address the outcomes of today’s Court hearing. I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this.
"I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.
"I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.
"I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love. I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers and fans all the best for the tournament.
"Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, team, supporters, fans and my fellow Serbians for your continued support. You have all been a great source of strength to me."

The ruling: Judge James Allsop said earlier that the court's ruling to uphold the immigration minister's decision to revoke Djokovic's visa was unanimous. After a 30-minute break to decide whether or not either party felt further orders were necessary, the court adjourned with no further orders incoming.

2:38 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

Will Djokovic be deported?

Sunday's decision means Novak Djokovic will return to immigration detention at the Park Hotel in the city center, where around 30 refugees are being held.

It's not clear yet if and when he'll be deported.

"Deportation means that you refuse to leave voluntarily and the Commonwealth then has to step in," lawyer Maria Jockel, an immigration expert from BDO Australia, told CNN Friday, before the decision.

In the case of deportation, "Australian Border Force officials have to walk you to the plane and get on the plane and ensure that you actually depart," she said.

CNN has requested a response from Djokovic and his legal team to Sunday's ruling.

2:33 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

The court hearing is over with no further orders coming

The court hearing has ended for the day, with the on-screen message of the livestream declaring, "The matter is adjourned and the live stream has concluded."

"There will be no further orders," the screen read.

Earlier, the screen had only said the hearing was "currently adjourned."

The judge had said after his ruing that the court would adjourn for 30 minutes to allow both parties to consider whether any further orders were necessary -- though the judge said he did not believe any were.

2:25 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

A quick look back at how we got here

The federal court is currently on a 30-minute break as both parties decide whether further court orders are necessary following the dismissal of Djokovic's challenge to his visa cancelation. Here's how this whole saga unfolded:

In November, Djokovic began preparations for the Australian Open, including receiving his Australian entry visa.
Dec. 16: The player takes a PCR test which comes back positive later that day — but he later said in a statement he didn't receive the notification until Dec. 17, when he had already attended a tennis event.
Dec. 22: He tests negative for the virus.
Dec. 30: He receives a medical exemption from Tennis Australia allowing him to enter Australia without Covid vaccination or quarantine, on the grounds that he has just recovered from Covid.
Jan. 1-2: Djokovic is notified by the Australian government that he is cleared for quarantine-free arrival, and he receives a Border Travel Permit by the state government of Victoria, where Melbourne is located.
Jan. 5: He arrives in Melbourne just before midnight. As the hours cross into early morning the next day, his visa is canceled and he is placed into detention.
Jan. 10: At his visa hearing, the judge quashes the visa cancelation and orders Djokovic to be released.
Jan. 14: Immigration Minister Alex Hawke invokes his personal power to cancel Djokovic's visa a second time.
Jan. 15: Djokovic is placed back into detention as a preliminary hearing commences.
Jan. 16: The judge dismisses Djokovic's appeal, leaving his participation in the tournament in serious doubt.

2:08 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

Court adjourns for 30 minutes after ruling

After announcing that he would dismiss Djokovic's appeal, Chief Justice James Allsop said the court was not aware of the need for any further orders -- but that the court would adjourn for 30 minutes to allow each party to consider whether any more orders are necessary.

If either party thinks a further order is necessary, the lawyers for both sides will need to meet and discuss the matter in the judge's chambers "as soon as possible," Allsop said.

2:05 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

Decision was "unanimous," chief justice says

Chief Justice James Allsop said the court's ruling to uphold the immigration minister's decision to revoke Novak Djokovic's visa was unanimous.

He began by saying the full bench of the Federal Court was not being asked to decide on the merits of the minister's decision, instead to review the legality of that decision.

"These grounds focus on whether the decision was for different reasons irrational or legally unreasonable. It is no part of the function of the court to decide upon the merits or wisdom of the decision," Allsop said.

He went on to say the amended application should be dismissed with costs.

1:59 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

Djokovic has lost his appeal. Can he still compete in the Australian Open?

Chief Justice James Allsop announces the court's decision on Sunday. (Federal Court of Australia)

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has lost his appeal against the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa for a second time.

The 20-time grand slam champion had been scheduled to play against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.

But while Sunday's decision is a setback, it isn't the end of the road yet, according to experts.

Legal options: Djokovic can still seek leave to appeal to Australia's top court, although time is running out for him to do so before the tournament begins, according to Abul Rizvi, a former deputy secretary with the immigration department.

"He may appeal for symbolic reasons but little else," said Rizvi, who added Djokovic would remain in detention until he departs.

Another visa: There's also the possibility Djokovic could get a bridging visa, which could allow him to play in the tournament while making arrangements to leave Australia, according to Maria Jockel, an immigration law specialist at BDO Australia.

But there's a hitch -- the visa can only be granted by the immigration minister, the same person who canceled his visa Friday. The court could ask that Djokovic is granted a bridging visa while the case is appealed further, but ultimately the decision lies with the immigration minister.

2:00 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

Here are the judge's orders in dismissing Djokovic's appeal

The judge has just handed down his ruling to dismiss Djokovic's appeal, saying the court would not be able to provide a detailed written explanation today but would try to give one as soon as possible in the coming days.

The court's full orders are:

The amended application be dismissed with costs, such costs to be agreed, or failing agreement assessed.
Reasons to be published at a later date.

1:58 a.m. ET, January 16, 2022

BREAKING: Djokovic has lost his appeal

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has lost his appeal against the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa for a second time.

The 20-time grand slam champion had been scheduled to play against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic at the Australian Open, which begins Monday.

It's not yet clear whether Djokovic will still be allowed to compete, with some legal options left.