Australia's Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his authority on Friday to revoke tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic's visa, attempting to deport him ahead of Monday's Australian Open Grand Slam.

The Australian Border Force initially revoked Djokovic's visa when he entered the country without the requisite COVID immunizations. However, Djokovic won a legal appeal against his deportation and was released from hotel custody by a Melbourne judge after the Australian government admitted he had not been given sufficient time to react to the notice of its intention to withdraw his visa.

Hawke announced in a statement that he had decided to exercise his authority to deport Djokovic "on health and public order grounds, on the basis that doing so was in the public interest."

"The Morrison Government is adamant about protecting Australia's borders, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," he continued.

"Our robust border protections have kept Australians safe, both prior to and during the COVID pandemic," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement.

According to media reports, Djokovic's lawyers suggested that they appeal if Australia attempted to deport him.

The stormy legal drama has cast a pall over the Australian Open and casts serious doubt on the government of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

According to a court affidavit, Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times. Djokovic attempted to enter the country with a medical exemption from vaccination owing to a prior COVID infection, which he tested positive for on December 16. He admitted Wednesday to making an "irresponsible decision" by violating COVID isolation restrictions in Serbia while infected with the virus.