The Australian government has once again canceled the visa of tennis star Novak Djokovic, adding another twist to the saga that makes none of the involved parties look particularly good. “Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr. Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said in a statement on Friday.
On Monday, an Australian court had ruled in favor of Djokovic, allowing him to leave the quarantine hotel he had been detained in and resume his preparations for the Australian Open. After entering Australia on a special exemption from the country's strict vaccination requirements on January 4, Djokovic's visa had been revoked, forcing him to quarantine until Monday's ruling. Djokovic, who is hoping to compete in the Australian Open starting on January 17, is likely to appeal the decision once again, in order to keep his dream of winning his 21st Grand Slam title alive.
As Nadal, Federer and Djokovic now all stand at 20 Grand Slam titles, the 34-year-old Serb looks most likely end up with the record that all three men have been chasing for years. With the still-injured Federer turning 41 this year and his last major title dating back to 2018, it seems increasingly unlikely that the Swiss maestro can add to his tally. Meanwhile Nadal's physical playing style is taking its toll on the 35-year-old Spaniard, who has been struggling with injury throughout his career. At this point, Djokovic looks like the safest bet to come out on top in the Grand Slam record books, adding weight to his supporters' argument that he, not Federer, nor Nadal, is the GOAT (the Greatest of All Time).
