Novak Djokovic court case updates: Djokovic leaves Australia

Australian court to hold preliminary hearing on Friday night on Novak Djokovic visa cancellation

Novak Djokovic will stay out of detention until the interview with immigration officials

Novak Djokovic has been asked to present himself for interview with immigration officials on Saturday

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday his government cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa to protect Australia's hard-won gains against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Australian Border Force had earlier told the Associated Press: “A person whose visa has been canceled may be subject to a three-year exclusion period that prevents the grant of a further temporary visa. The exclusion period will be considered as part of any new visa application and can be waived in certain circumstances, noting each case is assessed on its own merits.”

Novak Djokovic faces deportation again after the Australian government revoked his visa for a second time. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said Friday he used his ministerial discretion to revoke the 34-year-old Serb's visa on public interest grounds three days before the Australian Open is to begin. Djokovic's lawyers are expected to appeal the cancelation in the Federal Circuit and Family Court as they successfully did after the first cancellation. It is the second time Djokovic's visa has been canceled since he arrived in Melbourne last week to defend his Australian Open title. His exemption from a COVID-19 vaccination requirement to compete was approved by the Victoria state government and Tennis Australia, the tournament organizer. That apparently allowed him to receive a visa to travel. But the Australian Border Force rejected the exemption and canceled his visa upon arrival in Melbourne. He spent four nights in hotel detention before a judge on Monday overturned that decision.

The Australian government cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time on Friday, saying the world tennis No. 1, unvaccinated for COVID-19, may pose a risk to the community. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used discretionary powers to again cancel Djokovic's visa, after a court quashed an earlier revocation and released him from immigration detention on Monday.