Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Melbourne: Novak Djokovic left Australia on Sunday evening on a flight from Melbourne to Dubai, hours after Australia's Federal Court ruled against the tennis star's last ditch appeal against a deportation order on the eve of the Australian Open.
In a statement released after the court's decision, Djokovic said he was " extremely disappointed by the ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the ... decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open."
Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times and was hoping to achieve a record 21st major title.
However, his visa was canceled after arriving in Australia, as he has not been vaccinated against coronavirus.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed Sunday's ruling, saying in a statement the decision will help "keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe."
"It's now time to get on with the Australian Open and get back to enjoying tennis over the summer," Morrison said.
The ATP Tour said that Djokovic's visa cancelation marked the end of what it called a "deeply regrettable series of events."
In a statement released on Twitter, the association said that matters of public health had to be respected, and that lessons needed to be be learned.
"Irrespective of how this point has been reached, Novak is one of our sport's greatest champions and his absence from the Australian Open is a loss for the game," it added.
The ATP also said that it continued to strongly recommend vaccination for all tennis players.
Family and Serbian president defiant
In Serbia, Djokovic’s father Srdjan rallied hundreds of fans and at one point said his son had been "crucified," much like Jesus.
"We believe he will come out of this situation stronger and that the time will show what he has been proving beyond any doubt so far, that he is a great champion and a man," the family said Sunday, adding that the ruling had been influenced by "politics and a lot of other interests."
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the hearing had been "a farce with a lot of lies."
"They think that they humiliated Djokovic with this 10-day harassment, and they actually humiliated themselves. If you said that the one who was not vaccinated has no right to enter, Novak would not come or would be vaccinated," Vucic told reporters.
Vucic added that he has spoken to Djokovic and told him: "We can't wait to see him in Serbia, to return to his country, to come where he is always welcome."
