Novak Djokovic fans will be outraged if he is deported, supporters say

If tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is deported, it could be the final straw for some of his Serbian Australian fans. Here’s why.

Novak Djokovic’s former coach and his wife celebrated the tennis superstar’s court win quashing the decision to cancel his visa, with champagne.

But if the tennis superstar is deported, it will be the last straw for some of his Serbian Australian fans, says Jelena Kis, whose husband Lars Kis coached Djokovic as a junior in Serbia.

“They’ll be furious,” she said.

“Most of my friends said if that happens, they will leave Australia.”

The decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa was overturned in the Federal Circuit Court on Monday but even though Judge Anthony Kelly found in the tennis star’s favour, there is still the possibility Djokovic could be deported.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has confirmed he’s considering whether to use his personal power to cancel Djokovic’s visa again.

Mrs Kis, a Sydney based migration agent, watched the court hearing closely with her husband on Monday.

Djokovic was freed from immigration detention on Monday. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“He had all the documents necessary to enter the country,” she said.

“It’s the most important for him to have proper docs to travel this tournament, that’s how he makes a living.

“It was nice to hear Judge Kelly when he said: ‘What else could this man provide to you?’”

Ms Kis said the case related not just to the tennis star.

“For me as a migration agent, it wasn’t a question only about Djokovic but for everyone else, because we’re honestly all lost in all these policies and procedures and daily changes,” she said.

“It’s really a mess.

“It’s like writing a book just to come to Australia.

“Where’s the common sense in all this?”

She said it was also not about vaccination.

“This is nothing to do with fighting for freedom, for being unvaxxed,” she said.

“My husband and I are double vaxxed.

“It’s really procedural fairness.”

Serbian tennis fans celebrate after Djokovic’s court win. Picture: Diego Fedele/Getty Images

Ms Kis said Djokovic’s Serbian Australian fans were still concerned his visa may be cancelled again.

“We’re a bit concerned with the latest news of this threat that the Minister might cancel his visa again,” she said.

“That will be horrible.

“They’ll be furious

“Most of my friends, they said if that happens they will leave Australia.”

Ms Kis said Djokovic loved “his second home” Australia, giving generously to bushfire relief and other charities.

Judge Kelly ordered Djokovic be immediately freed from detention. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images

Lars Kis said when he first heard Djokovic had his visa cancelled he thought “someone’s pulling my leg”.

He said the saga had damaged the reputation of tennis in Australia.

“We just have not seen the full scale of the damage this has done to our grand slam,” he said.

He said Serbian Australians were elated with the champion’s court win, but that could turn to anger if the star is deported.

“Serbs are extremely happy about the decision, they believe there is fairness in this country,” he said.

“They feel like they live in a country which is not like ours was like. To be honest, we all ran away from things like that.”

Mr Kis said it felt like “no one’s the winner” in the ordeal.

“Please let’s focus on sport now. Let’s focus on tennis,” he said.

“There’s no place for politics in sport.”

Djokovic’s junior coach said there were ‘no winners’ out of his ordeal. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Djokovic was held in a detention hotel in Melbourne after his visa was cancelled on arrival to Australia last week, to play in the Australian Open which begins on January 17.

The unvaccinated player received a medical exemption to compete in the year’s first grand slam but when he touched down in Melbourne last week, was told by the Australian Border Force he had insufficient evidence to prove his exemption was justified.

He successfully fought the decision to cancel his visa on Monday but Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has confirmed he’s considering whether to use his personal power to cancel Djokovic’s visa again.