Serbian press speaks of “scandal of the century”
Tennis star Novak Djokovic has left Australia. Serbian President Vučić accuses the Australian authorities of arbitrariness. The tournament starts on Monday without the unvaccinated world number one.
The destination airport after his involuntary departure from Australia is still unknown: The only thing that is certain is that Novak Djokovic has reached the Dubai airport. After landing, the tennis star even posed relatively exuberantly for photos with other passengers.
Dhe tennis star Novak Djokovic was forced to leave Australia after his sensational dispute with the government over corona entry restrictions. He landed in Dubai on Monday night, according to an AFP journalist who was traveling on the same plane as the Serb. Accordingly, the vaccine-skeptical athlete wore two bags when leaving the plane – and the prescribed mask. His final destination, however, was unknown.
Djokovic has endured a nerve-wracking dispute over entry rules that overshadowed the real reason for his trip to Australia – namely to defend his title at the Australian Open tournament and to set a new record with the 21st Grand Slam title ever.
The affair about his supposed special treatment not only damaged the image of the tennis player, but also the Australian government.
According to Djokovic, he had to leave Australia “extremely disappointed” after an appeals court on Sunday rejected his objection to the renewed withdrawal of the visa. He now faces a three-year entry ban in Australia.
Novak Djokovic with his entourage in Dubai
Which: REUTERS
His hopes for the tenth title at the Australian Open ended one day before the tournament started.
Selfies with fans
Photos from the airport building in Dubai show the 34-year-old surrounded by his team. Other photos show how other passengers asked the tennis star for photos together.
A happy tennis fan and Novak Djokovic (wearing a mask)
Which: REUTERS
Recordings of the selfie situation show Djokovic relatively relaxed and posing patiently. While the Serb continued to leave his blue mouth and nose protection for the selfies, the fans took off their masks for the photos of the nose and mouth.
Novak Djokovic with another fan in Dubai
Which: REUTERS
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is under pressure due to the high number of infections and upcoming elections, said in a radio interview after Djokovic’s departure that “a very clear message” had been sent. However, he hinted that Djokovic could also return to Australia before the three-year deadline expires ‘in the right circumstances’.
Morrison’s government itself did not cut a happy figure in the dispute over strict entry rules. When the authorities canceled Djokovic’s visa upon his arrival in Melbourne for the first time, they suffered a defeat in court and the unvaccinated tennis player was allowed to enter the country for the time being. Djokovic then had to admit that after a positive corona test in Serbia in December, he had not complied with isolation regulations by meeting journalists for an interview.
Eventually, Australia’s Immigration Minister exercised his sweeping executive powers and canceled the visa again, this time on the grounds that the vaccine skeptic’s presence could fuel anti-coronavirus sentiment in Australia. The second time, appeals judges upheld the government’s decision.
Djokovic is now missing the Australian Open tennis tournament, which begins on Monday. It was initially unclear where the 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner would travel from Dubai.
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