"Shame": Serbian press goes crazy after Djokovic decision - father speaks of "assassination"

Created: 01/17/2022 05:27

By: Patrick Mayer

The tennis drama in Australia is over for the time being.

Novak Djokovic is not allowed to take part in the Australian Open and has to leave the country.

The news ticker.

• The Australian Open will start in Melbourne on Monday (January 17).

• Novak Djokovic has to leave the country, his appeal against the cancellation of his visa was rejected

  (see update from January 16, 08:01)

  .

• Now the Djoker himself speaks up

  (see update from January 16, 9.15 a.m.).

• This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from January 16, 3:25 p.m .:

Now Novak Djokovic’s family has also commented on the deportation of the tennis star.

Via the Serbian newspaper

, the family says: "We are proud of the fight he fought.

We'll help him deal with the blows he's taken."

The full statement: "We are very disappointed with the decision of the Federal Supreme Court and the fact that Novak has to leave Australia.

It was not only about sports and games in the first Grand Slam of the season that Novak has dominated for a decade, but also about politics and all interests that have won in this case.

"Despite the scandalous behavior towards Novak, we believed that the sport would win. We believed that the fact confirmed by the court would be respected - that Novak has a valid visa, that justice will be served and that no "public interest" will be an excuse for the decision made," the family continued.

"These are difficult times, especially for Novak, but what we all have to do, especially us as his family, is to support him more than ever.

We will be there to share the blows he received, to help him regain his energy, his confidence in the sport, especially in the fair play that was totally lacking here.

We are proud of him and the strength he showed and the fight he fought with dignity.

We believe he will emerge stronger from this situation and that time will tell what he has undeniably always confirmed, which is that he is a great champion and a man.”

Djokovic left Australia - father: "Attack over, 50 bullets in his chest"

Update from January 16, 1:55 p.m .:

After his defeat in a federal court, tennis star Novak Djokovic left Australia on Sunday evening.

The 34-year-old Serb took off at 10:52 p.m. (local time) on flight EK409 from Melbourne to Dubai.

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.

Djokovic will miss the Australian Open, which begins on Monday, where he is the record winner with nine wins.

In a written statement, the defending champion had already stated that he was "extremely disappointed with the decision".

However, he had also emphasized that he would respect them and cooperate with the responsible authorities regarding his departure.

Meanwhile, Djokovic's father spoke up: "The assassination attempt on the best athlete in the world is over, 50 bullets in Novak's chest."

Novak Djokovic: Serbia's President speaks of "witch hunt"

Update from January 16, 11:15 a.m .:

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reacted with incomprehension to the forthcoming expulsion of Novak Djokovic from Australia.

He said that to the tennis star in a phone call.

Vucic also spoke to the Serbian media again on Sunday about a "witch hunt" that Djokovic had to endure in the past few days.

"I told Novak that I can't wait for him to come back to Serbia, to his country where he is always welcome," said Vucic.

It is unacceptable "to treat the best tennis player like this for ten or eleven days and then to tell him the same decision on the eleventh day as on the first day."

Vucic also accused Australian government lawyers of lying.

"In the senseless court case you could see how much the prosecution is lying. They simply lied. They say that there are less than 50 percent vaccinated people in Serbia, but it's officially 58 percent. That's more than in many other European countries. It was a pointless argument," Vucic said.

Australian athletes are always welcome in Serbia.

"Thank you to the people of Australia. I'm sure they love Serbia," said the politician: "They think they humiliated Djokovic, but they only humiliated themselves. He can go back to his country and raise everyone up look head in the eye."

Novak Djokovic: Serbian press rails against Australia

Update from January 16, 11:10 a.m .:

The Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic lost his visa question before the Australian federal court on Sunday and has to leave the country.

Serbian and Croatian online media write:

Serbia

:

"kurir.rs"

: "The court has decided: deportation for Novak!

The greatest shame in the history of sport happened in Melbourne!

Shame on you Australia!

(...) The law has lost, politics has triumphed.”

"alo.rs":

"A disgrace like never seen before!

Djokovic will be deported, he will not play at the Australian Open."

"informer.rs":

"Shaken like never before!

Disappointed "Nole" spoke up in court after defeat.

He makes no secret of his grief.”

Croatia: “24sata.hr”:

“Well then, “Djoxit”!

Novak will be deported.”

Djokovic speaks up for himself after the exit verdict

Update from January 16, 9:15 a.m .:

Novak Djokovic is apparently not considering any further legal action after the judgment of the Federal Court of Australia. He respects the court's decision and will cooperate with the relevant authorities regarding his departure from Australia, said the world number one in a statement quoted by several media on Sunday.

Shortly before, the Federal Supreme Court had rejected the Serbian tennis pro's appeal against his refused entry and the cancellation of his visa. The defending champion and record winner is therefore not allowed to take part in the Australian Open in Melbourne, which begins on Monday, and has to leave the country. "I'm extremely disappointed with the decision," said Djokovic. The 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner has already won the Australian Open nine times.

"I'm uncomfortable that I've been the focus of the past few weeks and I hope we can all focus on the game and the tournament I love," said Djokovic.

He will now take some time to recover before making any further comments.

According to a report by the AAP news agency, an appeal to the High Court, Australia's highest court, would have been possible.

The chances of success were slim anyway.

Djokovic hammer!

Tennis star is not allowed to participate in the Australian Open

Update from January 16, 8:01 a.m .: 

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. The decision 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 judgment before the federal court.

According to a report by the AAP news agency, an appeal to the High Court, Australia's highest court, is possible.

But the chances of success are slim.

This means that the 34-year-old Djokovic cannot defend his title at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne. 

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 record winner of the Australian Open spent the night before the hearing in the federal court in a deportation hotel. 

Update from January 16, 7.43 a.m .:

Can he compete at the Australian Open or not? The decision on Novak Djokovic's visa issue is imminent. The Serbian tennis star is awaiting the court decision on whether he will have to leave Australia or be allowed to compete as the defending champion at the Australian Open from Monday. After a five-hour session, the three judges of the federal court retired early Sunday afternoon (local time) for the verdict. Presiding judge James Allsop said the hope was to come to a conclusion later in the afternoon or early evening. The 34-year-old world number one Djokovic had appealed that his visa had been declared invalid again on Friday.

The session started at around 9:30 a.m. (local time) and was adjourned at 12:30 p.m. for a one-hour break.

More than 85,000 people watched the online broadcast on the Federal Supreme Court's YouTube channel.

Djokovic case: judges discuss decision

Update from January 16, 7:02 a.m .:

In the court session in Australia in the case of Serbian tennis professional Novak Djokovic, the judges withdrew early Sunday afternoon (local time) to make a decision. Three judges of the federal court decide whether the tennis star can stay in the country and take part in the Australian Open, which begins on Monday in Melbourne, or whether the defending champion has to leave the country. Djokovic (34) 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.

He had spent the night before the hearing at the federal court in a deportation hotel.

Djokovic hearing on Sunday - decision imminent?

First, the lawyers of the 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner presented their line of argument.

Among other things, they raised the question of whether Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke had not considered whether "anti-vaccination sentiment" would also be fueled if the tennis pro's visa was declared invalid.

The Australian government had given the reason why Hawke had again declared the visa invalid that the stay could promote "anti-vaccination sentiment".

The government side argued that Djokovic could be a role model for vaccine skeptics.

After starting around 9:30 a.m., the session was suspended at 12:30 p.m. for a one-hour break.

It should be possible to complete the procedure at "lunchtime", it was said at the beginning.

Djokovic decision is imminent: Lucky Loser moves up in case of defeat

Should Djokovic succeed in court, the defending champion would compete at the Australian Open on Monday night.

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 9 a.m. German time) in the Rod Laver Arena.

Should the world number one lose in court, 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.

Djokovic back in custody: decision to showdown made!

Zverev also speaks up

Update from January 15, 10:20 a.m .:

The hearing of tennis world number one Novak Djokovic before the federal court in Australia should 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 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. The showdown in the Cause Djokovic is on Sunday. With a short procedural hearing before Judge O'Callaghan, the case on the visa issue was continued on Saturday.

After the authorities had refused entry to Djokovic, who was not vaccinated against Corona, last week, he had spent several nights at the Park Hotel in Melbourne's Carlton district.

The first court decision on Monday was in his favour, Djokovic then continued preparing for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.

His visa was invalidated a second time in a personal decision by Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke on Friday.

Djokovic was brought back to the deportation hotel on Saturday, Australian media reported.

It's likely he'll have to stay there overnight until Sunday's hearing.

Novak Djokovic: Germany's tennis ace Zverev intervenes in corona drama

Update from January 15, 8.35 a.m .:

In the entry dispute about Novak Djokovic, Germany's best tennis player Alexander Zverev took the side of the Serbian top star and spoke out in favor of his participation in the Australian Open. "I don't think it's very fair for a person to come here and not be able to play," said the 24-year-old from Hamburg in Melbourne. "The Australian Government and the Government of Victoria should have known in advance what was going to happen."

The start of the Serbian defending champion Djokovic at the Grand Slam tournament starting on Monday is still questionable. A federal court in Melbourne will deal with the 34-year-old's appeal on Sunday. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke declared the visa of the world number one invalid on Friday and justified it with the public interest. Djokovic is the record Australian Open winner with nine titles. "I don't know enough about the situation, but I think if it weren't for Novak Djokovic, the world number one with 20 Grand Slam titles, all of that, then it wouldn't be such a big drama," said Zverev.

In view of the high corona numbers in Melbourne, Zverev is severely restricted at the Australian Open.

Apart from training, he's not going anywhere, said Zverev.

"I'm not taking any risks.

I want to play the tournament as well as possible.” A good 25,000 new cases were reported for the Australian state of Victoria on Saturday.

Zverev will face outsider Daniel Altmaier from Kempen in a German duel in the first round on Monday.

Novak Djokovic again in the deportation hotel before the Australian Open

Update from January 15, 7:07 a.m .:

The Serbian tennis professional Novak Djokovic, threatened with deportation from Australia, is again in custody.

The Australian news agency AAP reported on Saturday.

It is therefore likely that the 34-year-old world number one will have to stay in custody overnight.

A court hearing is scheduled for Sunday morning.

The tennis top star had his visa revoked for the second time on Friday.

Unvaccinated against the coronavirus, Djokovic is a controversial figure in the country that has imposed tough rules since the pandemic began.

Last week, the authorities refused him entry and he was taken to a deportation hotel.

The federal court should now clarify the question of whether the defending champion and record winner can take part in the Australian Open.

The first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season starts on Monday in Melbourne, Djokovic would play his first round game on the first day of the two-week event.

First report from January 14th:

He was twice the winner of the Australian Open: Boris Becker won the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne in 1991 and 1996.

On top of that.

The 54-year-old from Baden also led Novak Djokovic to triumph "Down Under" in 2015 and 2016 as coach.

The collaboration lasted three years, Becker knows the Serbian superstar inside out.

Novak Djokovic/Australian Open: Boris Becker defends unvaccinated tennis star

The man who has caused a stir in the past few days, not only in the tennis world.

It turned out that the 34-year-old was not vaccinated against the corona virus.

With an alleged special permit, he still traveled to Australia, although strict rules apply on the continent in the global pandemic.

Most recently, however, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke withdrew Djokovic's visa in a veritable farce after Djokovic had prevailed in court at first instance.

As of Friday evening, January 14, it was unclear whether he would still be allowed to compete at the Australian Open.

Somehow.

There are many people who share Novak's view.

Boris Becker on the unvaccinated Djokovic

Becker also joined the heated debate on the same day.

The Leimener defended his former protégé, but still urgently advised him to get a corona vaccination.

“If you don’t get vaccinated, that doesn’t automatically make you a bad person.

I got vaccinated and boosted, but I'm also in my fifties," said the 54-year-old in an interview with the

: "There are many people who share Novak's view , trust in their strong immune system and maybe have a different view of the world.

As a democratic society, we should also allow these other opinions.”

Novak Djokovic/Australian Open: Ex-trainer Boris Becker advises corona vaccination

In the meantime it has been shown, said Becker, “that despite three vaccinations you can also become infected and pass on the disease.

That's the devilish thing: There is no best solution, only a temporary one.

Novak made a different choice than me and the majority of people.

But he didn't do anything illegal."

Nevertheless, Becker warned: If Djokovic wants to continue to concentrate on tennis, he has to make changes, the six-time Grand Slam winner said in an interview with the

: "That's why my opinion would be: 'Novak, try to see that it's easier for you to be vaccinated will be.'

I don't know if he does that."

Boris Becker also said that Djokovic was "a wonderful character". "He loves his family more than anything, he loves his home country Serbia more than anything, he still has friends from before that he hasn't forgotten. He has many human qualities that you don't really know. He's an incredible fighter," said the German tennis icon about his former student: "If anyone had the chance to win the Australian Open under these conditions, it would be Djokovic. I belong to the extended part of his family - I think he at least belongs to me. We have spent many private, intimate, incredibly great moments together, that has welded us together. That doesn't mean we always agree: I got vaccinated, I have different political views, but we're very close as people."

Novak Djokovic/Australian Open: Boris Becker sees a chance for Alexander Zverev

Becker believes that if the Serbs are ruled out, a German tennis ace could benefit from it.

He told the

: "Sascha Zverev indeed has a great chance of winning his first Grand Slam title and he can become number one in the world."