Tennis
Australian Open Kicks Off Without Novak Djokovic After Deportation
by privatebet.com - 2022/01/17
Australian Open is kicking off today, but Novak Djokovic won’t be defending his title. After a high-stakes legal battle following two visa cancelations, the Serbian tennis champion has been deported from Australia after losing his last bid to stay in the country. This ruling puts an end to the 10-day saga, which started with Djokovic entering Australia after being granted a medical exemption to take part in the tournament. He was detained for not meeting the entry requirements for unvaccinated travelers but managed to get his visa reinstated, only to have it canceled again. Djokovic’s legal team tried to overturn the decision, but their appeal wasn’t successful, leading to deportation from Australia. Djokovic said he’s “extremely disappointed” by the court’s ruling, adding he’ll take some time to rest and to recuperate before making any further comments, and wished everyone taking part in the Australian Open the best of luck. "I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love. I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers, and fans all the best for the tournament,” said Djokovic in a statement. The Serb currently holds the all-time Australian Open record with nine titles, but he could have trouble making a comeback. He’s barred from returning to Australia for three years, but the ban could be waived under the right circumstances.