Novak Djokovic detained as he awaits visa hearing

By Melissa Mahtani, Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Adrienne Vogt, Jessie Yeung and Adam Renton, CNN

Updated 12:36 a.m. ET, January 15, 2022

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11:12 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

"I think all this could have been avoided... by getting vaccinated," says tennis star Garbine Muguruza about Djokovic

Tennis player Garbine Muguruza. (Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Two-time grand slam champion and current women's world No. 3 Garbine Muguruza said the Novak Djokovic media frenzy could have been "avoided" if the men's world No. 1 had gotten vaccinated, like other tennis players entering Australia to play in the tournament.

“I think we all want to move on," Muguruza of Spain, told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.
“I think all this could have been avoided, like we've all done, by getting vaccinated, doing all the things we had to do to come here," she said, adding everyone knew the rules "very clearly."
"You just have to follow them and that's it. I don't think it's that difficult,” Muguruza said.

When asked if the Djokovic visa saga affects the average person’s opinion of international tennis players, Muguruza responded with a "yes."

“I don't think that this would help the tennis world or the players because at the end it's a little bit of conflict all the time," she said.

10:46 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Rafael Nadal: Australian Open will be great with or without Novak Djokovic

Tennis player Rafael Nadal. (Simon Baker/AP)

Rafael Nadal told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday that no one player is more important than the Australian Open. That includes himself, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, he said.

"It's very clear that Novak Djokovic is one of the best players," Nadal said, but added the Australian Open is "much more important than any player."

Nadal said the tournament would be great "with or without" Djokovic.

When asked about the situation surrounding Djokovic, and what it could mean for his legacy, Nadal said he didn't know.

"I wish him all the very best," Nadal said, adding he had a "good relationship" with Djokovic during his career.

He said he respected Djokovic as a "person and as an athlete" even if he did "not agree with a lot of things (Djokovic) did the last couple of weeks."

“I wish him all the best," Nadal said.

Nadal, seeded sixth, is on the same half of the draw as Djokovic in the Australian Open. But the two will not meet until the semifinals, if both players get that far.

Of Nadal's 20 major titles, just one is an Australian Open victory — which he won in 2009.

10:25 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Naomi Osaka on Djokovic situation: "It's kind of sad that some people might remember him in this way"

Tennis player Naomi Osaka. (Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was asked for her thoughts on the situation swirling around Novak Djokovic on Saturday in Melbourne, ahead of the tournament.

Osaka told reporters she didn't think her "thoughts are important," calling it an "unfortunate situation."

"He's such a great player, and it's kind of sad that some people might remember him in this way," Osaka said.

Read her full answer below:

“Yeah, honestly for me, in a way I don't really think my thoughts are important. Even if I say what I think, I've seen people say one side, I've seen people say the other side. I also know, like, one person's opinion isn't going to change anything, it's just going to cause my controversy.
“I think it's an unfortunate situation. Like, he's such a great player, and it's kind of sad that some people might remember him in this way. But I also think it's up to not tennis players, it's up to the government how Australia is deciding to handle it.
“Yeah, I know what it's like to kind of be in his situation in a place that you're getting asked about that person, to just see comments from other players, it's not the greatest thing. Just trying to keep it positive.”

9:00 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Djokovic's ongoing presence in Australia may lead to an "increase in anti-vaccination sentiment," immigration minister says

From CNN’s Philip Wang in Atlanta

Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday said that Novak Djokovic’s ongoing presence in Australia may lead to “increase in anti-vaccination sentiment” or even “civil unrest” as part of the reason of canceling his visa, court filings show.

In a 10-page decision memorandum seen by CNN, Hawke said Djokovic’s refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19 may not only “pose a health risk to the Australian community,” but may also disrupt the “good order” of the society.

“In particular, his behaviour may encourage or influence others to emulate his prior conduct and fail to comply with appropriate public health measures following a positive Covid-19 test result, which itself could lead to the transmission of the disease and serious risk to their health and others, ” Hawke argued.

Hawke went on to say that Djokovic’s continuing presence may lead to increases in rallies and protests, which may themselves be a source of community transmission.

“I also acknowledge that Mr. Djokovic is now in the community, and that some unrest has already occurred, such that it is too late to avoid it. This weighs in my mind against the public interest in cancellation,” Hawke said.

Djokovic, the world's top-ranked men's tennis player, has had his visa revoked twice by immigration officials because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19.

He is being detained by Australian immigration officials ahead of a decisive court hearing Sunday, where detailed arguments will be presented on whether the tennis star should be deported.

8:55 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Here's what's happened with Djokovic over the past 24 hours, and here's what could happen next

From CNN's Hannah Ritchie in Melbourne, Australia

Novak Djokovic was detained by Australian border authorities on Saturday morning, as per a court-ordered arrangement decided Friday. The world's top-ranked men's tennis player, has had his visa revoked twice by immigration officials because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19.

What has happened: Djokovic's visa was revoked for the second time on Friday by Australia's immigration minister, Alex Hawke.

Hawke on Friday said that Novak Djokovic’s ongoing presence in Australia may lead to “increase in anti-vaccination sentiment” or even “civil unrest” as part of the reason of canceling his visa, court filings show.

Djokovic's legal team challenged the Friday ruling, and the case was transferred up the chain to Australia's Federal Court.

The Australian government agreed not to deport Djokovic over the weekend before his case has concluded.

Djokovic will spend Saturday night in pre-immigration detention while his case is debated in court.

Judge Anthony Kelly who presided over Friday's hearing, said Djokovic will be allowed to visit his lawyers' offices Saturday to prepare for his Sunday hearing, before eventually being moved back into pre-immigration detention, as required under Australian law.

What's to come: The court will hear detailed oral arguments in his case on Sunday.

If Djokovic's appeal is successful, that timetable would allow him to compete in the Australian Open on Monday.

Djokovic remains listed in the tournament draw and is due to face Miomir Kecmanovic.

7:07 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Detailed oral arguments in Djokovic visa cancellation case will be heard in court Sunday

From CNN's Hannah Ritchie

Australia’s Federal Court will hear detailed oral arguments in Novak Djokovic’s visa cancellation case on Sunday.

“Proceedings will be fixed for a hearing Sunday 16th January 2022 at 9.30 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (Saturday 5.30 p.m. ET),” Justice David O'Callaghan, who is now presiding over the case, said in open court Saturday.

Djokovic’s legal team, which is being led by barristers Nick Wood SC and Paul Holdenson QC, will submit their filings in the case to the Federal Court by 12 p.m. local time Saturday (8 p.m. ET Friday).

The lawyers acting on behalf of the Australian government will then be given until 10 p.m. local (6 a.m. ET Saturday).

The court will consider Saturday whether the case should be heard in front of one or three Federal Court judges.

Djokovic is expected to spend Saturday night in pre-immigration detention as his court case is ongoing.

7:05 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Djokovic expected to spend tonight in pre-immigration detention ahead of his court hearing

From CNN's Hannah Ritchie, Helen Regan and Joshua Berlinger

Novak Djokovic was detained by Australian border authorities on Saturday morning, as per a court-ordered arrangement decided Friday.

Djokovic, the world's top-ranked men's tennis player, has had his visa revoked twice by immigration officials because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19.

The tennis star was interviewed by the Australian Border Force at 8 a.m. Saturday local time (4 p.m. ET Friday). It was agreed between both parties in the case that the location would remain "undisclosed" to the public in order to keep the tennis star safe and avoid a "media circus."

Djokovic is expected to spend Saturday night in pre-immigration detention as his case is debated in Australia's Federal Court.

6:13 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Serbian health official disputes Djokovic's claim of when he got his Covid-19 PCR test results

From CNN’s Scott McLean, Nada Bashir and journalist Tihana Bajic in Belgrade

Novak Djokovic should have received notification of his positive Covid-19 PCR test results on Dec. 16 — as outlined by the timestamp on his test certificate — a Serbian health official said Friday, despite Djokovic’s claim that he did not receive official notification of the test results until Dec. 17.

Pressed by CNN on whether such a discrepancy between the time listed on the certificate and the time of notification via email — as claimed by Djokovic — could be possible, provincial health secretary Zoran Gojkovic said the result should have been received late in the evening of Dec. 16.

“You need to ask Novak Djokovic when he opened his inbox and checked the email. All I can say is that he has a valid document and that it was delivered to his inbox on that day, late in the evening. As for what he did after that, I cannot comment — that is a question for him,” Gojkovic said during a Friday government news briefing in Belgrade.

According to court filings, Djokovic took an official and approved PCR test on Dec. 16 — the results of which were generated after 8 p.m. on the same day, as outlined by the timestamp on the test certificate.

However, Djokovic claimed in a Jan. 12 statement that he did not receive notification of the positive PCR test result until the next day — after attending a tennis event, where he was photographed, without a mask, meeting with children.

A spokesperson for the Serbian prime minister echoed Gojkovic’s remarks, telling CNN after the news conference there is “no way in the world that he didn’t get the notification — no way in the world it could have been late by a day.”

Anecdotally, the results of a PCR test carried out by one CNN producer in Belgrade on Thursday were received via email two minutes after the time listed on the results certificate. Others who have been tested, however, say the time for results to be emailed can vary.

CNN has reached out to Djokovic’s representatives for comment.

5:34 p.m. ET, January 14, 2022

Here's why Australian border authorities detained Novak Djokovic

From CNN's Hannah Ritchie

Novak Djokovic was detained by Australian border authorities on Saturday morning, as per a court-ordered arrangement decided Friday heard by CNN in open court.

The move follows a decision by Australia's immigration minister Alex Hawke to revoke the tennis star's visa on Friday after days of deliberation about whether to eject the 34-year-old Serbian from the country.

Djokovic is accused of providing false information on his Australian visa declaration, specifically that he hadn't traveled in the 14 days before his arrival in the country.

Djokovic's lawyers are appealing the decision, and his case to stay in Australia will be heard on Saturday before the country's Federal Court following an emergency hearing before Judge Anthony Kelly in the Federal Circuit and Family Court on Friday.

If Djokovic's bid fails, he could be deported.