Novak Djokovic has slipped out of his immigration detention hotel and is heading to his lawyer's office as he launches a last-ditch attempt to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open.
Lawyers for the world No.1 will argue the federal government had no grounds to cancel his visa for a second time in the Federal Court at 9.30am.
Overnight, Djokovic was held alongside asylum seekers in immigration detention at the notorious Park Hotel, in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton.
He was seen leaving the building shortly before 9am on Sunday, presumably to watch proceedings from his lawyer's office, which is what he did during the initial hearing last Monday.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke utilised his far-reaching ministerial powers to cancel Djokovic's visa on Friday afternoon despite a monumental court win against the government earlier in the week.
Novak Djokovic has slipped out of his immigration detention hotel and is heading to his lawyer's office as he launches a last-ditch attempt to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open
He determined the Serbian's participation in the Grand Slam would 'foster anti-vaccination sentiment'.
But Djokovic's high-powered legal team, led in court by Nicholas Wood SC, argued there is no legal basis for the Minister to determine if Djokovic has a 'well-known stance on vaccination'.
They say Mr Hawke's ruling was made based on comments the 20-time Grand Slam winner made in 2020 and that there was no attempt by the government to seek his current views on Covid vaccinations.
They will also argue the government has 'cited no evidence' that Djokovic will rile up the anti-vaxxer community, and will claim expelling him from the country will do more to fuel anti-jab sentiment Down Under.
Lawyers for Novak Djokovic (pictured) will make a last-ditch bid for the world No. 1 to stay in Australia by hitting the Immigration Minister with a new argument when the blockbuster case goes before the Federal Court on Sunday
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The reigning Australian Open champion spent Saturday being grilled by Border Force officers at a secret location before being hauled away under guard while a brief court hearing got underway.
His counsel had a significant win in the drawn out saga on Saturday with a judge ruling the matter would be heard in the Federal Court before a full bench - something the government fiercely opposed.
The case will be overseen by Chief Justice James Allsop, Justice Anthony Besanko and Justice David O'Callaghan.
The development means if the Australian government lose the case, it will not be able to appeal the ruling - leaving the world No. 1 free to play in Monday's Australian Open tournament where he is chasing a 10th title.
Alternatively if Djokovic loses he will be booted out of the country and may not be able to return until 2024.
The key reasons behind Novak Djokovic's (pictured with wife Jelena) visa cancellation have been revealed with Immigration Minister Alex Hawke saying his presence in Australia may 'foster anti-vaccination sentiment'
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke (pictured) made the call to give unvaccinated Djokovic the boot from Australia
The tennis ace originally had his
