Novak Djokovic’s appeal against deportation in Australia ended Sunday and a verdict was expected within hours.
Federal Court Chief Justice James Allsop said he and two fellow judges hoped to reach a verdict later Sunday.
The top-ranked male tennis player Djokovic needs to win the appeal to defend his Australian Open title in play that begins on Monday.
The Australian government cancelled Djokovic’s visa on Friday due to issues surrounding his stance against Covid-19 vaccination.
Will Novak Djokovic Deportation Verdict favor him?
Djokovic spent Saturday night in an immigration detention hotel after he and his lawyers met with immigration officials earlier in the day. Television footage showed the 34-year-old Serb wearing a face mask as he sat in a vehicle near the hotel Sunday morning.
Novak is permitted to leave the hotel to spend Sunday in his lawyers’ offices, under the guard of two immigration officials, while the challenge is heard via a video conference.
Djokovic spent four nights confined to a hotel near downtown Melbourne before being released last Monday when he won a court challenge on procedural grounds against his first visa cancellation.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday blocked the visa, which was originally revoked when he landed at a Melbourne airport on Jan 5.
