Novak Djokovic has been deported from Australia after a court ruled against his deportation appeal. The Serbian tennis pro will be missing out on an opportunity to defend his championship title in the Australian Open, which started on January 09.
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‘Extremely Disappointed’
Djokovic obtained a medical exemption allowing him to enter Australia without having been vaccinated. Upon arrival on January 06, his visa was cancelled, and he was detained on public health grounds.
He successfully appealed against that decision last week, only for the court on Sunday to uphold the revocation of his visa. He was due to start playing on Monday in the hopes of winning a record 21st Grand Slam.
Djokovic had spent most of his short stay in Australia in detention hotels but was finally deported on Sunday. Ahead of his departure, he expressed his extreme disappointment in the decision.
I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open. I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.
No One Is Above The Law
The player’s attempt to enter the country without receiving the Covid vaccine sparked anger among Australians, who have been under strict Covid restrictions over the past two years.
The federal government said Djokovic did not meet the entry requirements, insisting that no one is ‘above the law’. The Serbian player said:
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.
