Djokovic scandal in the news ticker: tennis star could also miss the French Open

After expulsion from Australia: Djokovic returned to Belgrade

2:58 p.m.: Novak Djokovic has returned to Belgrade after being expelled from Australia. While dozens of journalists and fans were waiting in front of the Serbian capital’s airport on Monday, the 34-year-old left the building through a side entrance, a security guard reported.

Turnaround in France: Unvaccinated Djokovic could also miss the French Open

11.30 a.m.: New adversity could come to Novak Djokovic again. Because in France there is currently a spectacular turnaround. Contrary to previous announcements, Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu has now said that only vaccinated athletes are allowed to take part in the French Open, which will take place at the end of May. The National Assembly had previously passed a Pass Vaccinal, i.e. a vaccination pass, which is intended to increasingly regulate participation in social life in France.

“Once the law is promulgated, proof of vaccination will be mandatory for access to stadiums – for both French and foreign athletes,” Maracineanu wrote on Twitter.

Djokovic is known to be unvaccinated and it is also completely uncertain whether he will be vaccinated in the future after the Melbourne posse. So Djokovic could also miss the second Grand Slam tournament of the year – and with it a lot of money, fame and world ranking points.

Serbia’s President Vucic: Djokovic “treated like a mass murderer”

1:43 p.m.: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has sharply criticized the Australian authorities’ handling of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. Since his arrival in Australia, the unvaccinated top athlete has been “harassed and tortured,” Vucic told the British BBC on Sunday.

He was “treated like a mass murderer”. A few hours earlier, the Australian federal court had rejected Djokovic’s appeal against the annulment of his visa. The 34-year-old has to leave Australia and will not take part in the Australia Open, which starts on Monday. The harassment of Djokovic had reached “unprecedented proportions,” Vucic said in the Serbian media on Sunday.

A “witch hunt” had been unleashed against him, and the media had created a “lynch mood”. “They wanted to make Novak an example of how the world order works.” But Djokovic could return to Serbia “with his head held high”.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic made a similar statement. She was enraged that the government lawyer in the case before the federal court explained that in Serbia less than 50 percent of the population was double vaccinated.

This is an “open lie”, said Brnabic. “We currently have 58 percent fully vaccinated and 37 percent received the booster.” However, the numbers that Brnabic gave probably referred to the proportion of vaccinated among the adult population. According to “Our World in Data”, it was 47 percent of the total population.

Djokovic’s father on Twitter: “The assassination attempt on him is over”

1:34 p.m.: Srdjan Djokovic, Novak’s father, commented on the scandal surrounding his son on Instagram. There he said that the “assassination attempt on the best tennis player in the world” was now over. Srdjan Djokovic also wrote that Novak received “50 bullets in the chest”.

The father of the world number one had repeatedly made martial statements in the past few days. He has referred to his son as “Jesus” in the past.

Djokovic leaves Australia after court decision

12:58 p.m.: Novak Djokovic left Australia late Sunday evening. As the AFP news agency reports, his plane took off before 11 p.m. local time.

This ends an eleven-day odyssey for both the Serbs and the Australian authorities, who also had to take a lot of criticism in the wake of the Djokovic scandal. The end of a posse that will go down in tennis history.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke confirmed the departure of the 34-year-old on Twitter, who failed on Sunday to appeal to the Australian Federal Court to have his visa annulled.

According to media reports, Djokovic is initially on his way to Dubai.

Australian media: Djokovic will leave the country on Sunday

11:02 a.m.: After his defeat in a federal court, tennis star Novak Djokovic will leave Australia on Sunday. As reported by the Australian newspapers “The Age” and “The Sydney Morning Herald”, the 34-year-old Serb will fly from Melbourne to Dubai at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday evening (local time).

Shortly before 6 p.m., the three judges responsible had rejected the objection by the world number one to the renewed cancellation of his visa on Friday.

Prime Minister Morrison welcomes court decision against Djokovic

10:14 am: Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed the court decision against Novak Djokovic. “Now it’s time to continue with the Australian Open and enjoy the summer of tennis again,” wrote the Prime Minister on Facebook on Sunday.

The federal court had previously rejected Djokovic’s appeal against the annulment of his visa. The 34-year-old has to leave Australia and will not take part in the tournament, which starts on Monday.

The decision was made for reasons of “health, safety and order,” Morrison wrote. It was done in the “public interest”. “Strong borders are fundamental to the Australian way of life – as is the rule of law.”

Djokovic comments: “I’m extremely disappointed”

8:41 a.m.: Novak Djokovic spoke for the first time shortly after the verdict was announced. “I am extremely disappointed with the court decision which means I cannot stay in Australia and compete in the Australian Open,” he said, according to Australian newspaper The Age. But he wants to respect the decision and cooperate with the authorities when it comes to his departure from Australia.

“I’m uncomfortable that the focus has been on me for the past few weeks,” Djokovic said, according to the report. He hopes that everyone can now focus on tennis again and wished all participants at the Australian Open every success.

Judgment against Djokovic unanimously, justification should follow on Monday

08.03: As the federal court announced, the decision against Novak Djokovic was unanimous, according to the announcement by the three judges James Allsop, Anthony Besanko and David O’Callaghan. The reason should be given on Monday at the earliest. Neither side can appeal the verdict.

The meeting started around 9:30 a.m. (local time). The decision was announced shortly before 6 p.m. local time. As the Australian news agency AAP reported, Djokovic had followed the meeting from his lawyers’ office in Melbourne.

The AAP also reported that an appeal to the High Court, Australia’s highest court, was possible. But the chances of success there are slim.

Judges announce Djokovic decision – visa remains cancelled

07.53: Novak Djokovic is not allowed to take part in the Australian Open and has to leave the country. As the federal court in Australia ruled on Sunday, the Serbian tennis pro’s appeal against his denied entry and the annulment of the visa was rejected.

Australian Open schedule first Djokovic game – if he is allowed to play

Sunday, January 16, 6:32 a.m.: Should Novak Djokovic succeed in court in Australia against having his visa canceled again, the defending champion would compete at the Australian Open on Monday evening. This emerges from the schedule that the organizers of the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne announced on Sunday before the court ruling in the Serbian tennis professional’s visa case.

Djokovic would meet his compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic in the second game of the night session (2nd game after 7 a.m. German time) in the Rod Laver Arena.

Should the nine-time winner of the Australian Open lose in court and have to leave the country, a lucky loser would take his place in the tableau – i.e. a player who had actually lost in qualification. World number one Djokovic is the defending champion and seeded number one.

Judges retire for advice: Djokovic follows hearing in lawyer’s office

5:10 a.m.: In the court session in Australia in the case of Serbian tennis professional Novak Djokovic, the judges retired early Sunday afternoon (local time) to make a decision. Three judges of the Federal Supreme Court decide whether the world number one can stay in the country and take part in the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Monday, or whether he has to leave the country. The 34-year-old defending champion Djokovic had appealed after his visa was withdrawn again.

It was not immediately known when the verdict would be pronounced. Presiding judge James Allsop said the afternoon will be spent deliberating on the case and hope to reach a decision on Sunday.

The previous hearing was broadcast online. As the Australian news agency AAP reports, Djokovic followed the meeting from his lawyers’ office in Melbourne. The record winner of the Australian Open spent the night before the hearing in the federal court in a deportation hotel.

Nadal comments on Djokovic scandal: “No one is more important than the event”

6:47 p.m.: Another tennis colleague of Novak Djokovic commented on the events surrounding Serbia and the upcoming Australian Open. “If he ends up playing, ok. If he doesn’t play, the Australian Open will be great Australian Open – with or without him,” said Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, who admitted he was a bit fed up with the topic.

It is clear that Djokovic is one of the best tennis players in history. “But no tennis player in history is more important than the event.”

The 35-year-old added: “I respect him even if I don’t agree with a lot of things he’s been doing in the past few weeks. If there is a solution to the problems, it’s vaccination. We need to get vaccinated “, he said.

That Nadal is returning to the Grand Slam stage after his protracted foot injury and how Djokovic could win his 21st Grand Slam title is just a side issue in Melbourne these days.

Report: Djokovic hearing before three judges – no appeal possible

09.55 am: The hearing of tennis world number one Novak Djokovic before the federal court in Australia is scheduled to take place on Sunday in front of three judges. As the Australian news agency AAP wrote on Saturday, the case of the 34-year-old Serb will be heard at the Federal Court of Australia from 9.30 a.m. by presiding judge James Allsop and his colleagues Anthony Besanko and David O’Callaghan. The visa case continued on Saturday with a brief procedural hearing before Judge O’Callaghan.

The federal court should clarify whether Djokovic can take part in the Australian Open, which begins on Monday, or whether he has to leave the country. According to the report, after a decision by three judges, no appeals can be made against the verdict.

Continue on the next page!