It’s still not completely clear if Novak Djokovic can play in the 2022 Australian Open because he hasn’t received a COVID-19 vaccine. The world’s top player won the latest round in his battle to compete in the tournament, prompting tennis fans to try and make sense of the situation.

On Monday, Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovic’s visa and ordered him to be released from immigration detention. According to Reiss Edwards, an immigration law firm based in central London, online searches for “Cancel Australia Visa” increased by 822% shortly after the ruling.

It marked an unprecedented rise in Google searches regarding how to cancel Australian visas, according to an analysis of Google Trends, the law firm says.

“These findings highlight the enormous influence that tennis champion Novak Djokovic has, with his case prompting a monumental increase in people searching how to cancel their visas to Australia,” said Amar Ali, managing director at Reiss Edwards. “It is a testament to the sports champion's popularity that he is not only bringing an enormous amount of attention towards the Australian Open, which will likely boost the viewing figures, but also creating a wider conversation surrounding visa requirements during the pandemic.

“This case should encourage better preparation and clarity on visa regulations and requirements, which is a vital step that anyone traveling for business must take.”

Australia requires all visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, though it does grant some exemptions. Djokovic announced last week that he received a medical exemption to play in this month’s Australian Open, but his visa was canceled upon his arrival.

While the latest ruling says Djokovic can play in the Grand Slam event, he could still face deportation before the tournament starts on Jan. 17.

No one has dominated the Australian Open like Djokovic, which could partly explain all of the Google searches. The 34-year-old has won the tournament a record nine times, doing so in the span of just 14 years. Djokovic has won three straight Australian Open championships.

Djokovic is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 career Grand Slam titles.

Novak Djokovic says he is determined to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic says he is determined to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open AFP / Paul CROCK
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