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An Australian appeals court will hear arguments in Novak Djokovic's visa cancellation case on Sunday.

Why it matters: The unvaccinated tennis player faces possible deportation from Australia after officials revoked his visa for a second time on Friday, citing public health interests. He is set to play his first match in the Australian Open on Sunday.

In Australia, deportation can lead to a three-year re-entry ban depending on the case, AP reports. 

Djokovic is expected to remain in immigration detention as the legal proceedings play out.

Australian appeals court to hear Novak Djokovic’s case on Sunday

Djokovic continues to face deportation after officials revoked his visa for a second time, citing public health.

Photo of Novak Djokovic with his racket swung behind him as a tennis ball approaches

Novak Djokovic plays a forehand during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 13 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Graham Denholm via Getty Images

Australia

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Axios Sports

Axios Media Trends

The NFL has had a banner season in terms of ratings and engagement, thanks in large part to the return of fans to stadiums, a slew of suspenseful games and of course, some off-field drama.

Why it matters: The 2021 viewership spike has quieted concerns regarding 2020's COVID-related decline, while also justifying the $100+ billion in media deals the league signed with its partners in March.

By the numbers: Viewership for the NFL's 2021 regular season was up 10% from 2020, its highest-rated season average since 2015, per Nielsen.

The NFL accounted for 41 of the 50 most-watched broadcasts of 2021, per Sportico (subscription), and 75 of the top 100.

Games averaged 17.1 million viewers (TV/digital), per the league, and 370 billion total minutes were consumed, up 18% from 2020 and the second-highest total since 2015.

Higher interest in games was a boon for pregame shows, per Sports Business Journal. NBC's "Football Night in America," for example, averaged 7.1 million viewers, an 18% increase from 2020.

Between the lines: A few close games and an extended season may have helped drive more viewership, and having fans back in stands enhanced the TV product.

A record 34 games were decided on the final play, and 64% of games were within eight points (one score) in the fourth quarter.

2021 was the first 17-game season in NFL history, with the league adding an additional 18th week to the schedule.

Zoom out: Online, the NFL was the second most-read news topic in November and December. It trailed coronavirus, but was ahead of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, per page views data from Taboola.

Interest then took off in the first weekend of January — way beyond the previous months, according to Taboola data — as the Week 17 slate included seven teams clinching playoff spots, fantasy football championships and Antonio Brown's dramatic exit.

Google search interest in the league hit its season-long peak this past Sunday when the playoff field was hammered out, culminating in a dramatic Raiders-Chargers finish with millions rooting for a tie.

The big picture: It's great timing for the NFL, which is looking to renegotiate its Sunday Ticket rights package this year, while also exploring strategic partners for some of its media networks, like NFL Network and RedZone.

What to watch: Sports executives don't expect NBC to experience the same dramatic viewership declines for this year's Super Bowl as last year, when viewership fell to a 10-year TV low.

The Super Bowl is typically considered a TV ratings success if more than 100 million people watch it live.

Last year's game was watched by 96.4 million viewers, though the broadcast did break records as the most live-streamed NFL game ever.

The bottom line: Though the pandemic still lingers, the NFL clearly benefited from the semi-return to normal in 2021. Packed stadiums drove more overall interest, and fans fell back into their weekly routine of watching games on Sundays (and Mondays and Thursdays).

The NFL has an extraordinary grip on America’s media diet

Viewership for the regular season is up 10% from last year.

National Football League (NFL)

Media

NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

With the Beijing Winter Olympics beginning three weeks from today, ultra-strict lockdowns in Chinese cities provide a glimpse of what the games' protocols will look like.

State of play: China may be the last country on Earth still adhering to a "zero COVID" policy. Rather than relying on vaccines and carefully reopening, China's goal is still to contain the virus via lockdowns.

More than 20 million people across five cities, including Xi'an, remain confined to their homes, per AP. 

But COVID has made its mark despite those measures. The port town of Tianjin is experiencing an outbreak that has Olympic officials worried because Beijing is just 80 miles away.

The big picture: Protocols for Olympic athletes and the thousands of other people involved in the games are similarly stringent.

All athletes must test negative twice within 96 hours of their flight, and unvaccinated athletes must quarantine for 21 days upon arrival. Masks are required and testing will occur daily.

There are four separate bubbles for athletes, media, observers and local workers, with closed-loop transportation systems for travel between venues.

The last word: "If they can pull this off without causing any major outbreaks, it would be another gold medal that China would be happy to claim," Yanzhong Huang, director of the Center for Global Health Studies at Seton Hall, told NYT.

Ultra-strict lockdowns preview what's in store for Beijing Olympics

China may be the last country on Earth still adhering to a "zero COVID" policy.

A man ice skating on an outdoor rink in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China.

An outdoor rink in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China. Photo: Huang Jinkun/VCG via Getty Images

2022 Winter Olympics

The Australian Open begins Monday (Sunday in the U.S.), and No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic's status is still up in the air. 

Where it stands: Djokovic faces deportation after his visa was revoked for a second time by the Australian government on Friday.  A lawyer for Djokovic has asked a court for an injunction preventing his removal from Australia.

How we got here: The past 10 days should have been about the World No. 1's quest for a record-breaking 21st major victory. Instead, they've snowballed into one of the biggest off-court tennis sagas ever.

Jan. 4: Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, announces he's heading to Australia with a medical exemption. Days later, we learn he got the exemption because he tested positive for COVID in December.

Jan. 5: Upon his arrival in Melbourne, he's held in the airport — in a room guarded by police, according to his father — due to a mistake with his visa application.

Jan. 6: After eight hours of airport detention, Djokovic's visa is canceled and he's denied entry to the country for failing to meet the exemption requirements.

Jan. 9: While he is cooped up in an immigration detention hotel — and inadvertently drawing widespread attention to refugees — Djokovic's parents join a rally in Belgrade, Serbia, demanding his release.

Jan. 10: Djokovic's visa is reinstated on appeal after arguing that his positive test in December superseded the country's vaccination requirement. Hours later, he's out on the courts practicing.

Jan. 12: In a statement, Djokovic blames his agent for "tick[ing] the incorrect box" on his travel declaration, which falsely claimed he didn't visit any countries in the prior two weeks.

Jan. 12: In the same statement, he admits to having attended an in-person interview after his positive test in December. He calls the breach of protocols "an error of judgement," while the Serbian Prime Minister calls it "a clear violation."

Jan. 13: The tournament draw is revealed, and it features Djokovic as the No. 1 seed, even as immigration officials continue to investigate him.

The bottom line: 255 men and women are currently looking at the draw and preparing for the year's first major tournament, but the 256th is all anyone can seem to talk about.

Timeline: The Djokovic saga

The past 10 days have snowballed into one of the biggest off-court tennis sagas ever.

Novak Djokovic during a practice session for the 2022 Australian Open n Melbourne, Australia, on Friday. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Austin

Axios Austin

The University of Texas Longhorns are poised to hire a long-time coaching rival to their football staff.

Driving the news: UT late last week posted a job for "special assistant to the head coach."

Spotted this past weekend in Austin was Gary Patterson, long-time coach of the TCU Horned Frogs.

UT athletic director Chris Del Conte is close to Patterson, having held the same title previously at TCU.

By the numbers: The defensive-minded Patterson assembled a 181-78 record before being forced out of TCU midway through last season.

He's also 7-4 against the Longhorns and won six of the last eight matchups, giving the Longhorns all kinds of fits.

Yes, but: The Longhorns already have a defensive coordinator. Pete Kwiatkowski has two years and $1.7 million left on a three-year deal that he signed last spring.

But, but, but: What defense? The Horns gave up scores left and right in the second half of big games this season.

The bottom line: Patterson will lend some big-picture vision and recruitment skills to a Longhorns squad already bursting with talent, but fitting the long-time head coach into the staff hierarchy will be tricky.

University of Texas football poised to hire former rival coach

University of Texas is poised to hire former TCU head football coach Gary Patterson as a special assistant.

Head coaches Steve Sarkisian and Gary Patterson shake hands after a game in 2021

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian meets TCU head coach Gary Patterson following Texas' 32-27 win over TCU in Fort Worth in October. Photo: AP Photo/Ron Jenkins

College football

News

Tampa Bay

A storm is coming. That much we know. But when?

⛈ What's happening: Forecasters across Tampa Bay are eyeing a cold front from the north due to arrive sometime on Sunday that carries high winds and a bunch of moisture.

Ideally, the front would arrive before the Bucs playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles and temps will be in the 60s.

Yes, but: If it arrives during the 1pm game, it could bring an hour of rainfall and severe weather.

Incoming storm could affect Buccaneers playoff game

If it arrives during the 1pm game Sunday, it could bring an hour of rainfall and severe weather.

Buccaneers Offensive Guard Alex Cappa readies for a pass rush.

Here's Bucs guard Alex Cappa, because offensive linemen never get their picture in the paper. Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Axios Tampa Bay, anchored by Ben Montgomery and Selene San Felice, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

Axios Tampa Bay

Philadelphia

Axios Philadelphia

Sports betting handle, by state

Data: Legal Sports Report; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios

Pennsylvania is one of the top three sports betting states in the nation, trailing behind only New Jersey and Nevada. 

Why it matters: Both the state and counties collect tax revenue from sports betting, 34% and 2% respectively. 

Driving the news: Pennsylvania generated more than $63 million in sports betting revenue in November, the latest state data available. 

Since November 2018, players waged $10.9 billion on sports statewide. 

Of note: The commonwealth accepts both mobile and in-person sports wagering. 

Flashback: Pennsylvania made sports betting legal six months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports gambling in May 2018. 

The state had moved to legalize online betting and fantasy sports as early as 2017, but the issue was held up by the federal court case.

Zoom out: A total of 30 states and Washington, D.C., have live legal sports betting markets, while 18 states and the district allow mobile betting. 

Pennsylvania is one of the 15 states that allows both. 

What's ahead: The next month is set to break more wagering records with the NFL playoffs and college football championships, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. 

Pennsylvania sports betting ranks third in nation

The next month is set to break wagering records nationwide.

Novak Djokovic faces possible deportation from Australia after his visa was revoked for a second time by officials on Friday — three days before he was due to begin the defense of his Australian Open title.

Driving the news: Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said in a statement he exercised his power to cancel the unvaccinated men's tennis world No. 1's visa "on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so." A lawyer for Djokovic has asked a court for an injunction preventing his removal from Australia.

 Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said in a statement he exercised his power to cancel the unvaccinated men's world No. 1's visa "on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so

Nicholas Wood, a lawyer for the Serbian star, told an emergency directions hearing in the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne that he would file a written application later Friday.

The tennis star is expected to attend an interview with immigration officials on Saturday, where he will likely be detained. Another hearing could be held as soon as Sunday.

The big picture: Djokovic won an appeal last Monday against the Jan. 6 cancellation of his Australian visa by border agents over his travel application and vaccination status. The judge who overturned the original cancellation was overseeing Friday's hearing.

The 34-year-old was named top seed in the Australian Open draw despite Hawke reviewing his visa status and was hoping to win a record 21st Grand Slam title at the tournament, which begins on Monday.

Djokovic on Wednesday blamed his agent for his Australian travel application error and also apologized for not isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 in December.

Worth noting: Over 92% of people over the age of 16 have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in Australia, and residents in several states have experienced some of the world's strictest lockdowns and border policies during the pandemic.

What they're saying: Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement that Hawke canceled Djokovic's visa "held on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so."

"Our strong border protection policies have kept Australians safe, prior to COVID and now during the pandemic," added Morrison, whose conservative coalition government is seeking re-election in polls to be held by May.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Australia cancels Novak Djokovic's visa again

Djokovic blamed his agent for an incorrect declaration in his Australian travel document.

 Novak Djokovic of Serbia looks on during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

Axios World

Two deadly attacks this week in Anglophone regions of Cameroon underscore the security challenges the country faces as it hosts one of the world’s biggest soccer tournaments, the Africa Cup of Nations.

The big picture: What started in late 2016 as a protest movement led by teachers and lawyers in two English-speaking regions of western Cameroon has evolved into a civil war that has forced around 1 million people to flee their homes, left 700,000 children out of school, and carried on for five years with no sign of resolution. 

Driving the news: Separatist rebels killed one soldier during an attack Wednesday in the city of Buea, where four national teams taking part in the tournament are staying. 

A rebel leader told Reuters the aim was to disrupt preparations for the games played on Wednesday in the nearby city of Limbe, which is slated to host five more games this month.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, a prominent senator was shot dead in northwest Cameroon. No group claimed responsibility, but separatist militias have assassinated several politicians they deemed insufficiently supportive.

The history: The former German colony of Kamerun was divided into French and British protectorates after World War I, and reunified as independent Cameroon in 1961. 

Both French and English are official languages, but French is spoken by around 80% of the population.

Lawyers and teachers launched peaceful protests in late 2016 against what they saw as the marginalization of the Anglophone culture, and more specifically against the appointments of French-speaking judges and teachers in the Anglophone regions, says Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Central Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch. 

The government responded with force. “They dispersed the protests, they shot at peaceful protesters, they arrested hundreds of them,” Allegrozzi says. “This led to frustration, to resentment, and also to the creation of armed groups.”

Separatist rebels declared the English-speaking regions an independent state called Ambazonia in 2017 and set out to make it impossible for the central government to control. 

One particularly controversial tactic is a forced school boycott that has seen scores of pupils threatened, attacked or kidnapped for attending school. Many who still go to school attend secretly, making sure not to wear their uniforms in public. The UN says 2 in 3 schools in northwest and southwest Cameroon remain closed.

The army, meanwhile, has allegedly burned villages and conducted arbitrary arrests during its counterinsurgency campaign, and it's “preparing for a long war,” according to an International Crisis Group report. 

"With neither side clearly ascendant and both reluctant to engage in talks, the conflict has reached a stalemate amid a lack of international attention," the report notes. Both sides have been accused of abuses against civilians. 

With Africa's most-watched sporting event coming to Cameroon this month, the government has attempted to show that it has control over the entire country, including by picking Limbe as one of the six primary venues. 

The separatists, meanwhile, want to undermine the government and draw international attention to their cause. 

When organizers planned for the tournament's mascot to visit the large Anglophone city of Bamenda last month, it required not only a lion costume but a bulletproof vest and military escort.

Separatist rebels strike in Cameroon during African Cup of Nations

Two deadly attacks this week underscore the security challenges the country faces as it hosts one of the world’s biggest soccer tournaments.

Security forces at an African Nations Championship game last year in the Anglophone city of Limbe. Photo: AFP via Getty

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