Djokovic case: the player on his way to Belgrade, the Australian Open has started

A few selfies with fans, long corridors… The arrival of Novak Djokovic this Monday morning in Dubai lacked the glorious welcome that usually greets the movements of the world number one in tennis.

The 34-year-old Serb left Melbourne with his coaches on Sunday evening, after Australia's Federal Court upheld the government's decision to overturn his visa, ending eleven days of drama over the country's entry rules , while the champion refuses to be vaccinated against the Covid.

He disembarked from the plane, masked and carrying two bags, after landing at Dubai International Airport at 5:32 a.m. local time (2:32 a.m. French time), an hour and a half after the launch of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.

Defending champion, Djoko hoped to clinch his 10th victory there, as well as a record 21st Grand Slam title.

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Novak Djokovic was to be the headliner for day one of the Australian Open. It was the Greek Maria Sakkari who started the hostilities on the Rod Laver court where she was succeeded by the defending champion Naomi Osaka, then Rafael Nadal. The main court was to welcome at the end of the program Alexander Zverev, whose match was rescheduled to replace that of Novak Djokovic.

"I am extremely disappointed," Djokovic reacted in a statement on Sunday.

"I'm uncomfortable that the attention of the last few weeks has been on me and I hope we can all now focus on the game and the tournament that I love," Djokovic said. in a statement before flying out of Melbourne.

"I will now take time to rest and recover," said the player, whose career, at least in Australia, could suffer heavily from this affair.

Scott Morrison opens door to return before three years

“This decision to cancel has been taken for reasons of health, safety and good order, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the radio. early Monday morning.

Under immigration law, Djokovic cannot be granted another visa for three years unless Australia's immigration minister acknowledges compelling or compassionate reasons.

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“I am not going to set any preconditions or say anything that would not allow the minister to take the various decisions he has to take,” assured the head of government on 2GB radio on Monday, “it is of a three-year period, but there is the possibility for (a person) to return under the right circumstances, and it will be considered at that time”.

Djokovic was escorted by airline staff on a buggy from the terminal to the gate for a flight a few hours later to Belgrade, where he checked in on his own.