Novak Djokovic: Tennis star given reprieve after Australian visa cancelled
Novak Djokovic, threatened with deportation by Australia who refused him entry and cancelled his visa, has been given a reprieve until Monday.
The Serb, who has been held by immigration authorities in Melbourne since arriving on Wednesday night to compete in the Australian Open, has challenged the authorities' decision to deny him entry.
At an initial hearing on Thursday, a government lawyer said the deportation would not take place until a further hearing on Monday.
The saga has turned into a diplomatic incident with Serbia's president Aleksandar Vucic accusing Australia of "bad treatment".
The world's number one seed was earlier this week cleared to play in the Australian Open after being granted a medical exemption ending months of uncertainty about his participation because of the strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements in place for the tournament.
But the player found himself held up at the border on arrival in Melbourne on because of a problem with his visa.
According to the Australian press, the multiple winner of the tournament and his team had not filed for the correct visa that would allow him to enter the country with a vaccination exemption.
After hours of deliberation, the Australian authorities made a decision not to let him into the country.
The country's prime minister Scott Morrison said the player would be treated like any other arrival, and if he did not fulfil the conditions required for entry he would find himself on the "first plane" home.
Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić posted a statement on Instagram on Wednesday night, claiming that he spoke with Djokovic and that the government is doing all in its power to "end the harassment of the world's best player in the shortest time possible".
"Serbia will
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