Melbourne

Tennis legend and world number one men's singles player Novak Djokovic on Monday won his legal appeal on procedural grounds, quashing the border officer's initial decision to cancel his visa on health grounds and end his detention.

Judge Anthony Kelly of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia quashed the cancellation of Djokovic's visa and confirmed the 20-time Grand Slam winner will be permitted to stay in Australia.

Djokovic who is from Serbia was also ordered to be released from detention immediately with his passport and "personal effects".

The Australian Government, however, has expressed its readiness to re-cancel the visa and detain Djokovic once again. After the judge's ruling, the lawyer for the Government Christopher Tran notified the court that the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs would consider "whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation."

In response, Judge Anthony Kelly made clear he wanted to be informed if the legal process was to drag on.

Djokovic was granted a medical exemption to enter Australia and compete in the Australian Open because he had recently tested positive for COVID-19, court documents published on Saturday have revealed.

The Australian Open organizers granted a medical exemption to vaccine-skeptic Djokovic after which he jetted into Melbourne on Wednesday. However, on landing the nine-time Australian Open champion spent eight hours in detention at Melbourne Airport where he unsuccessfully pleaded his case to border officials.