Novak Djokovic court case updates: Djokovic leaves Australia

Alex Hawke, the Australian Minister for Immigration, has cancelled Novak Djokovic's Australian visa "on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so."

Should he stay or should he go? The fate of tennis star Novak Djokovic, who could get kicked out of Australia before he has a chance to defend his Australia Open grand slam title, has caught public imagination in the country like never before. Australians' love of sport against support for the country's strict border controls, at a time of growing frustration over the government's handling of COVID-19, are fuelling animated conversations in coffee queues, front rooms and virtual workplaces.

Novak Djokovic now knows he'll face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first-round of his Australian Open title defense, if he's allowed to play. Djokovic's visa status dominated attention until the moment the draw was conducted Thursday to determine the brackets for the men's and women's singles draws at the first major tennis tournament of 2022. And still after it. The Australian immigration minister was still considering whether to deport the nine-time and defending Australian Open champion, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Top-ranked Djokovic had his visa canceled on arrival in Melbourne last week when his vaccination exemption was questioned, but he won a legal battle on procedural grounds that allowed him to stay in the country. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has been considering the question since a judge reinstated Djokovic's visa on Monday. (AP)

If Novak Djokovic is ruled out of the opening Grand Slam of the year before it starts, his place will be taken by a so-called "lucky loser", someone who lost in the final round of qualifying.

Crowds at the Australian Open tennis will be capped at 50% capacity under updated COVID-19 restrictions, the Victoria state government said on Thursday, as authorities battle a surge of cases in Melbourne. Face masks will also be mandatory for all patrons, except when eating or drinking, and there will be density limits of one person per two square metres at indoor hospitality venues, the government said in a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday his government has yet to decide on cancelling tennis superstar Novak Djokovic's visa. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's earlier statement that he is pondering whether to tear up the visa "has not changed", Morrison told a news conference in Canberra on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Novak Djokovic was drawn to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Australian Open despite ongoing uncertainty Thursday over his visa status. The world number one, top seed and defending champion is looking to clinch a 10th title at Melbourne Park and a record 21st Grand Slam crown.

World no.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic is waiting to hear whether Australia will seek to cancel his visa for a second time, after being released from immigration detention three days ago when a court ruled he could stay. Australia's Immigration Minister Alex Hawke faces a tight timeframe to decide whether to exercise his power to cancel Djokovic's visa, as the Australian Open, the year's first tennis major, is due to start on Monday.

The uncertain status of top-ranked Novak Djokovic didn't stop Australian Open organizers from listing him as the top seed for the Grand Slam tournament beginning next Monday at Melbourne Park. As expected, home-grown talent and top-ranked Ash Barty was given the No. 1 seeding in the women's singles draw when the list was released on Tuesday. Defending champion Naomi Osaka is seeded 13th.

Novak Djokovic woke up on Tuesday to his first morning outside immigration detention in Australia, almost a week after he flew into the country - and into an international furore over his COVID-19 vaccination status. However, the world number one still faces the threat of being detained by the federal government for a second time and deported, despite Monday's court ruling quashing the government's earlier decision to cancel his visa.

Feeling "embarrassed" by the drama surrounding Novak Djokovic's entry to Australia, spin legend Shane Warne on Tuesday said he would like answers to some basic questions like whether the Serbian tennis star attended public events despite a COVID-19 infection and who exactly gave him the medical exemption to come here.

The ATP on Monday responded to Novak Djokovic's stunning victory over the Australian government in his visa battle, by calling the argument over his vaccination status "damaging on all fronts".