Humiliated Novak Djokovic has touched down in Dubai early Monday, 13 and half hours after leaving Australia over his COVID-19 vaccination status, only to hear confirmation he has been banned from entering Australia for three years after his visa was cancelled.
The Serbian tennis star posed for selfies with staff and fans as he moved through the airport after he was kicked out of Australia over the visa row.
As he touched down in the United Arab Emirates en route to Europe, the Australian Open kicked off without him in Melbourne, with his name taped over on the official draw.
His deportation quashed his attempted bid at a record 21st Grand Slam title.
It wasn’t immediately clear where Djokovic planned to travel next.
The Dubai Duty Free tennis tournament, which Djokovic won in 2020, doesn’t start until Feb. 14.
He appeared relaxed and posed for selfies with at least two of his fellow passengers after disembarking.
His arrival follows a protracted legal battle between the unvaccinated Djokovic and the Australian government that polarised opinion and damaged reputations on both sides.
Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” after a Federal Court unanimously upheld the cancellation of his visa on public order grounds.
The humbled star boarded a flight from Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport for Dubai late Sunday, accompanied by a retinue of aides and officials including his coach Goran Ivanisevic.
Emirates flight EK409 took off at 10:51 pm local time (11.51 GMT), according to an AFP reporter on board, and landed before dawn in Dubai.
Twice in the last 11 days Australia’s government had ripped up Djokovic’s visa and placed him in immigration detention – saying the unvaccinated star’s presence could fuel anti-vaccine sentiment amid a tidal wave of Omicron cases.
Twice the Serbian star fought the decision in court, winning one round but losing Sunday’s decider.
With a few dry words, the chief justice of Australia’s Federal Court, James Allsop, ended a week of legal high drama that was followed around the world.
“The orders of the court are that the amended application be dismissed with costs,” Allsop said.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was withering in his criticism of Australian authorities.
“They think that they have by this, this mistreatment of 10 days, humiliated Djokovic, but they have humiliated themselves. Djokovic can return to his country with his head held high,” Vucic told a state media outlet.
Djokovic could now be banned from visiting Australia for three years.
He is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 Grand Slam titles each.
Djokovic’s compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic, who was set to face the nine-time champion in the first round on Monday, called the incident a “bitter pill to swallow”.
“Our little Serbian team here in Melbourne is upset and disappointed,” Kecmanovic wrote on Instagram.
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