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Novak Djokovic was doomed even before he won his Federal Circuit Court case against deportation from Australia.

That's the belief of an ex-Australian Border Force official, who rightly tipped a week ago that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke would revoke Djokovic's visa.

"My mail is that regardless of the court result, Djokovic will still be deported," the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AAP on January 7.

The former ABF officer said Djokovic being "such a vocal anti-vaxxer" ultimately led to the world No.1's downfall, and posting on social media last week that he was coming to Australia with a "special exemption" was the final straw.

"That was like raising a red flag to a bull to the (Australian) government," the source told AAP.

"He's made such a big song and dance. When this pandemic first kicked off, he was partying at his own tournament shirtless on stage with other players.

"The bottom line is you need to be fully vaccinated to get into the country, unless you've got exemptions from certain things, and he hasn't.

"He's the world No.1 but because he's such a vocal anti-vaxxer, that's why he got looked at and why initially his visa got rejected."

Many have questioned how Djokovic was allowed to board a flight to Australia without the necessary visa.

"When you apply for a visa overseas, you get online and it's pretty much tick and flick. Australia doesn't have Border Force officers at every port around the world," the ex-officer said.

"We don't have the resources. It's impractical and it's not viable.

"So there's background checks done, they go through a process and ... you pop up in a database if you're a criminal or if you've got criminal history, you get looked at closely.

"Clearly Novak's not a criminal - we all know that. But because he's drawn so much attention to himself, that's what made him a target."

The former Border Force official said Djokovic was "quite likely going to get a three-year ban" from entering Australia.

"If your visa gets cancelled, especially if the immigration minister cancels your visa, it's automatic that you get a three-year ban," he said.

Under Australian law, anyone expelled from the country for three years following an adverse decision under section 133C(3), can apply for a waiver under "compelling" or "compassionate" circumstances.

Djokovic isn't giving up his fight to remain in Melbourne and contest the Australian Open, with legal action planned for the weekend.

© AAP 2022

Novak Djokovic's desperate legal fight to keep alive his Australian Open campaign will continue into the weekend, with the world No.1 set to return to detention.

The Serbian superstar launched legal action on Friday night just hours after he had his visa revoked by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke in a hammer blow to his chances of claiming a 10th Open title this year.

Spending the night in a private residence, Djokovic will meet with immigration officials early on Saturday morning and will then be taken back into detention before the next legal hearing on Sunday in the Federal Court of Australia.

The appeal got underway with an initial directions hearing in the Federal Circuit Court before the same judge, Anthony Kelly, who on Monday quashed Djokovic's last visa cancellation on procedural fairness grounds.

During Friday night's hearing, which at one stage was watched on video link by 45,000 people, Djokovic's lawyer Nicholas Wood, SC, told the court that the minister believed the player's presence in Melbourne had potential for "exciting anti-vax sentiment".

Wood described those conclusions as seeming "patently irrational".

In handing down his orders Judge Kelly sought an undertaking from the minister that until a final decision was made Djokovic wouldn't be removed from the country.

After a four-day deliberation Hawke said he had cancelled the visa for a second time on "health and good order grounds".

"Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so," Hawke said in a statement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians deserved to be protected.

"Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected," Morrison said in a statement.

"This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today."

The decision by Hawke threatened to end the Serbian superstar's quest to secure a record-breaking 21st grand slam title at a tournament which he has dominated since winning his first Open title in 2008.

If Djokovic doesn't successfully fight the decision, under immigration law he would be banned from being granted another visa for three years, although this can be waived.

Meanwhile, Open organisers must rework the draw following the late omission of the top seed, who was slated to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round.

According to the grand slam rule book, Djokovic's withdrawal after the completion of the draw means his slot at the top will go to No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev.

If he withdrew (or was withdrawn) after the first day's order of play was released, he would be replaced at the top of the draw by a lucky loser.

Djokovic cited a December COVID-19 infection to gain a medical exemption from vaccination but was detained by Australian Border Force officials on arrival last week and sent to a detention hotel with his visa cancelled.

He then won a reprieve in the Federal Circuit Court on Monday and has trained daily at Melbourne Park since, including an appearance Friday morning on Rod Laver Arena.

But it proved only a temporary move with Hawke using his discretionary power to again send Djokovic packing.

The 34-year-old did himself no favours when he was forced to admit in a statement this week he had provided false information on his travel declaration, blaming his agent for the error.

He also admitted to conducting an in-person media interview in Serbia while knowingly infected with COVID-19 and meant be self-isolating - an act which he described as an "error of judgement".

© AAP 2022

Novak Djokovic's legal challenge to keep alive his Australia Open campaign will continue on Friday night just hours after the world No.1 had his visa cancelled.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced late on Friday afternoon that the nine-time Open champion's visa had been revoked for a second time, less than three days before the year's opening grand slam begins in Melbourne.

Facing deportation, Djokovic will face a directions hearing before Judge Tony Kelly in the Federal Circuit Court which is set to get underway at 8.45pm.

The decision by Hawke threatens to end the Serbian superstar's quest to secure a record-breaking 21st grand slam title at a tournament which he has dominated since winning his first Open title in 2008.

After a four-day deliberation Hawke said he had cancelled the visa on "health and good order grounds".

"Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so," Hawke said in a statement.

"This decision followed orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court on 10 January 2022, quashing a prior cancellation decision on procedural fairness grounds.

"In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Mr Djokovic."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians deserved to be protected.

"Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected," Morrison said in a statement.

"This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today."

If Djokovic doesn't successfully fight the decision, under immigration law he would be banned from being granted another visa for three years, although this can be waived.

The timing of Hawke's announcement makes a challenge difficult as the first round of the Australian Open starts on Monday.

Lawyers would need to get an urgent order preventing his deportation, and another that would order Hawke to grant Djokovic a visa in order for him to play.

Meanwhile, Open organisers must rework the draw following the late omission of the top seed, who was slated to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round.

According to the grand slam rule book, Djokovic's withdrawal after the completion of the draw means his slot at the top will go to No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev.

If he withdrew (or was withdrawn) after the first day's order of play was released, he would be replaced at the top of the draw by a lucky loser.

Djokovic cited a December COVID-19 infection to gain a medical exemption from vaccination but was detained by Australian Border Force officials on arrival last week and sent to a detention hotel with his visa cancelled.

He then won a reprieve in the Federal Circuit Court on Monday and has trained daily at Melbourne Park since, including an appearance Friday morning on Rod Laver Arena.

But it proved only a temporary move with Hawke using his discretionary power to again send Djokovic packing.

The 34-year-old did himself no favours when he was forced to admit in a statement this week he had provided false information on his travel declaration, blaming his agent for the error.

He also admitted to conducting an in-person media interview in Serbia while knowingly infected with COVID-19 and meant be self-isolating - an act which he described as an "error of judgement".

© AAP 2022