Novak Djokovic scored a remarkable win over the Australian government on Monday, regaining his visa and ending his incarceration.
It was a huge defeat for the administration, which had been enforcing border controls for two years to stop the virus spreading.
In an emergency online court hearing, the judge annulled Djokovic's visa cancellation decision.
The unvaccinated tennis star was ordered "immediately released from immigration custody."
"This release must occur within 30 minutes of this order," he continued.
Djokovic's high-powered legal staff will be charged to Australian taxpayers.
"Novak, Novak, Novak," screamed scores of Novak supporters as they marched with drums outside Melbourne's federal courts.
Djokovic, 34, came in Melbourne last Wednesday, looking to win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.
Even as he relishes an unexpected victory in federal court, his tournament ambition may remain elusive.
Despite the player's legal success, the government's lawyer said Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may utilize his "personal power of cancellation."
After landing in Australia, Djokovic was interviewed by border officers overnight, who judged he had failed to establish a valid medical justification for not being vaccinated.
Djokovic's visa was canceled and he was deported.
"It's a five-storey facility that accommodates around 32 people caught in Australia's tough immigration system, some for years."
Djokovic's early request to be moved to a training facility for the Australian Open was ignored, his attorneys alleged.
'Not human'
The court found that the player was not given a full opportunity to respond before his visa was revoked.
Djokovic was instructed at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday to respond to the possible termination of his visa. But at 7:42 am, the border agent cancelled it.
"He may have contacted others and made comments to the delegate about why his visa should not be withdrawn," the judge added.
"I just truly don't understand why you don't let me to enter your nation," Djokovic said in the airport interview transcript.
Earlier, Dijana Djokovic said her son was detained "in inhumane conditions" during a rally in Belgrade.
"They imprison him and just feed him lunch and dinner," she told local media.
"He has no window, he stares at a wall."
It was revealed that Djokovic had attended a press conference that day for the Serbian national postal office to introduce his stamp series, which had no influence on his court case.
The Belgrade tennis organization published photos of him at a junior players' event on December 17.
It said he gave out mugs and prizes. Nobody wore a mask.
-news24
