World tennis ace Novak Djokovic has arrived home in Serbia after being deported from Australia because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19
Novak Djokovic lands in Serbia and stops for selfies after deportation from Australia because he was not vaccinated against #COVID19
Will he be able to compete in the French Open? #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/dp1Ex84TQb
— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) January 17, 2022
Djokovic was booted from The Australian Open over his anti-vaccine views in a controversial decision by Australia’s immigration minister.
It comes as the international tennis event commences at Melbourne Park… where he had hoped this year to win his 21st Grand Slam singles trophy
Every January for over a decade Novak has been greeted by fans at Melbourne Park for the Australian open, signing autographs and taking selfies, but this time its a change of scenery.
Djokovic was deported on Sunday after losing a ten-day battle over his right to remain.
Instead of defending his Australian Open title as the grand slam began here in Melbourne, he posed for selfies with fans at Dubai airport as he made the long journey back to Europe.
JUST IN: Deported tennis star #NovakDjokovic met by supporters as he arrives at #Dubai airport in the #UAE. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/nlEHzuNlfH
— Dan Murphy (@dan_murphy) January 17, 2022
He may have been all smiles, but he refused any questions about his visa debacle after his plan landed just after 5.30 am local time.
Where to next for the world number one?
This whole saga has ended hopes of defending his Australian Open title and the chance to win a historic twenty first grand slam.
It doesn’t appear he will be back down under any time soon… authorities earlier confirmed that the unvaccinated tennis star will ban him from Australia for up to three years.
However, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison later provided a glimmer of hope for Novak
He said to Australian radio station 2GB: “(The ban) does go over a three-year period, but there is the opportunity for them to return in the right circumstances and that would be considered at the time”
The French Open will commence in late may, is he likely to play at that grand slam?
As he flew home from Australia, doubts rise over whether Novak would be able to play in the French Open.
A member of the French Parliament said a new law that will exclude unvaccinated people from sports venues, restaurants and other public places will apply anyone who wants to play in the tournament.
So essentially, no vaccine, no play.
The next tournament on his calendar is likely to be in Dubai at the end of next month, where he will need to provide negative PCR tests before being allowed in the country.
For now, a warm welcome awaits the world number one in his home city, where he continues to receive overwhelming support.
In pictures: Serbians rally outside Belgrade's international airport for Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic's arrival after his deportation from Australia over his coronavirus vaccination status pic.twitter.com/5o8mzq8koD
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 17, 2022
Spain PM’s firm warning
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has firmly confirmed the world number one must comply with rules if he wishes to compete in Spain.
“Any sportsperson who wishes to compete in our country must comply with the health rules of Spain,” the country’s leader said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz supported Sanchez’s comments, standing beside him during the press conference.
“We all have to abide by them, no matter who we are,” he said.
Djokovic travels regularly to Spain where he owns a house in the southern resort of Marbella.
Spanish rules currently require people to have either a vaccine certificate, a PCR negative test or a certificate of having recovered from COVID.
