Novak Djokovic’s three-year visa has been overturned following the Tennis player’s high-profile deportation from Australia in January over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Serbian-born tennis player missed the entire Australian Open tournament in January and was deported 10 days after arriving at Melbourne Airport as the world’s top-ranked tennis player.

Australia had some of the strictest pandemic restrictions in the world and Djokovic did not meet the requirements for entry, the government said, so his visa was cancelled and he was automatically banned from entering the country for three years.

However, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles – whose government came to power in May – has overturned the ban and is set to grant Djokovic a visa to play in next year’s Open.

The 35-year-old has described having his Australian visa ban overturned as a great “new year present” as he gears up for a tilt at a record equalling Grand Slam win next January.