Novak Djokovic has said he remains focused on playing at the Australian Open and defending his title as he thanked the judge who released him from detention for overturning his visa cancellation.

The World No.1 men’s tennis player tweeted a picture of himself at a tennis court with his team shortly after emerging from his lawyers’ offices a free man when judge Anthony Kelly ruled his detention to be illegal.

“I am pleased and grateful that the judge overturned my visa cancellation,” he wrote alongside the photo in his most expansive public comments since his initial detention. “Despite all that has happened in the past week, I want to stay and to try to compete at the Australian Open. I remain focused on that.

“I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans. For now I cannot say more but THANK YOU for standing with me through all this and encouraging me to stay strong.”

Djokovic’s brother, Djordje, told a news conference in Serbia that the tennis champion had resumed his Australian Open preparations by taking part in a practice session. He and other family members spoke from a table crowded with microphones and more than a dozen of Djokovic’s tennis trophies, their remarks interrupted occasionally by applause from those present.

In their comments, they celebrated the ruling, praised judge Kelly who had restored Djokovic’s visa, and expressed confidence that “the truth” — at least as the family sees it — would prevail.

“Novak is free and just a moment ago he went to the tennis court to practice,” Djordje said at the family news conference in Belgrade. “He’s out there to set another record.”

The fight over his medical exemption from Covid-19 vaccination may not be over, however, as the Australian government has said it was still considering another move to deport him.

Whatever happens next, the drawn-out conflict over the world’s top men’s tennis player seems to have crystallised a moment as the pandemic approaches its third year. Hosting international sports events now involves navigating ever-evolving public health and border security rules, including the management of vaccine mandates on athletes who see themselves as high priests of their own bodies and their sports.

(Written with inputs from NYTNS and agencies)