Novak Djokovic of Serbia attends a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 14, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

Australia will delay efforts to deport Novak Djokovic until his renewed legal challenge concludes, a government lawyer said Friday.

At an emergency hearing, Stephen Lloyd told a judge that the government would not detain Djokovic before an interview with immigration officials on Saturday morning and he would not be deported before his case is heard.