‘Grateful’: Novak Djokovic thanks judge and takes to practice court after release

Novak Djokovic’s thanked his supporters for standing by him as he hailed his hailed his successful appeal against the cancellation of his visa by the Australian authorities.

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Photograph: Loren Elliott/Reuters

”I’m pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete @AustralianOpen,” Djokovic tweeted as his family gave a press conference.

“I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans.”

At a press conference in Belgrade Djokovic’s family said he had returned to the practice court.

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His mother Dijana claimed the Australian Open champion was “subjected to torture and harassment” in detention in Melbourne.

Djokovic’s father Srdjan said: “Over the past few days, it’s been very, very difficult for everyone in the world who is free thinking. But he is mentally extremely, extremely strong. They took away all his rights his rights, as a human being. He refused to revoke his visa. They gave him no right to prepare his defence for several hours, and they took away his phone. Fortunately they gave him back his phone. He contacted his legal team who mounted a fantastic defence, that they could not match.

“This is a huge win for Novak, his family and the free world. He respected everything that was asked of him. He only wanted to go there to play tennis and that right he wanted to take away from them. Justice and the rule of law have prevailed. The judge who presided over the case has shown that not for second was Novak the guilty party. The judge was fantastic, he simply respected the facts. He took the only decision that was possible which was to release Novak.”

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