Australia: The tennis player Mr. Novak Djokovic will be given a visa by the Australian government, enabling him to compete in the 2023 Australian Open. Mr. Djokovic will receive a visa from Immigration Minister Mr. Andrew Giles, ending a three-year ban that came along with the previous administration’s decision to revoke his visa on the eve of the 2022 Open.

Earlier in the year, the Coalition government rejected Mr. Djokovic’s visa on the grounds that a recent diagnosis of COVID-19 did not support an exception to the country’s requirement that visitors must be immunised.

Earlier in the year, the Coalition government rejected Mr. Djokovic’s visa on the grounds that a recent diagnosis of COVID-19 did not support an exception to the country’s requirement that visitors must be immunised.

Despite the player winning a temporary respite in the federal circuit court, the then-immigration minister Mr. Alex Hawke opted to reject the visa because Mr. Djokovic is “perceived by some as a talisman of a community of anti-vaccine sentiment” and his presence in Australia may create public upheaval.

Just days before the tournament, the tennis player lost a second federal court case that led to his expulsion. He was going for his 10th Australian Open championship and a record-tying 21st grand slam victory. Since then, Australia has abandoned its demand that tourists be immunised. The Minister must be persuaded that there are compelling reasons to allow someone whose visa had previously been revoked to return in order to lift the three-year prohibition.

After winning his first match at the ATP Finals in Turin Mr. Djokovic told reporters he hadn’t heard “anything official” from the Australian government.

LIFESTYLE: Legendary Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy dies at 66