Novak Djokovic Loses Australia Deportation Legal Fight: Here's How The World Reacted
Novak Djokovic lost his Australia deportation battle and was spotted in Tullamarine airport, departing for Dubai.
On the eve of the start of the Australian Open, tennis maestro Novak Djokovic on Monday lost his battle against deportation from Australia. This happened after a federal court decided to reject his appeal against the government's decision to deport him from the country. The verdict also quashed Djokovic's chances of defending his Australian Open title and win a record 21st Grand Slam in front of the Melbourne crowd at the Rod Laver Arena. The announcement, however, received mixed reactions from netizens across the globe. While some sympathised with the world number one tennis player, some said that the court made the right choice by rejecting Djokovic's appeal.
The Serbian tennis star was also spotted by reporters in Melbourne' Tullamarine airport, departing for Dubai.
Here's how Twitter reacted to Novak Djokovic losing his battle against deportation from Australia:
"Novak Djokovic has more integrity, conviction and courage than every politician in Australia who had to poll their next move. He's a champion on and off the court," an Australian journalist wrote on Twitter.
Novak Djokovic is being deported because the government were worried he would promote dissent against them.
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) January 16, 2022
If you're celebrating that, you should move to China.
Novak Djokovic's last seven grand slam results:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 16, 2022
Disqualified
Deported
Easily the wildest timeline in tennis history.#AusOpen
"I know too little to judge the situation. What I know is that Novak is always the first one to stand for the players. But none of us stood for him. Be strong @djokernole," French tennis player Alize Cornet tweeted.
I know too little to judge the situation.
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 16, 2022
What I know is that Novak is always the first one to stand for the players. But none of us stood for him.
Be strong @DjokerNole
"Novak would never have gone to Australia if he had not been given an exemption to enter the country by the government (which he did receive; hence Judge Kelly's initial ruling). He would have skipped the Australian Open and been home with his family and no one would be," Canadian tennis star Vasek Pospisil wrote in a Twitter thread.
.. talking about this mess. There was a political agenda at play here with the elections coming up which couldn't be more obvious. This is not his fault. He did not force his way into the country and did not "make his own rules"; he was ready to stay home. [2/2]
— Vasek Pospisil (@VasekPospisil) January 16, 2022
"Who else feels ZERO sympathy for Novak Djokovic?" a user tweeted.
Who else feels ZERO sympathy for Novak Djokovic?
— Nathan Mackenzie Brown (@NathanMackBrown) January 12, 2022
"Let me say this, if Naomi Osaka, or Serena Williams acted in the way Novak Djokovic has acted in the past couple weeks- the tennis association would be sharpening their knives. They hung Osaka out to dry because she missed a couple pressers, meanwhile on Djokovic...(crickets)," another user wrote.
Let me say this, if Naomi Osaka, or Serena Williams acted in the way Novak Djokovic has acted in the past couple weeks- the tennis association would be sharpening their knives. They hung Osaka out to dry because she missed a couple pressers, meanwhile on Djokovic...(crickets).
— Francis Maxwell (@francismmaxwell) January 13, 2022
"Novak Djokovic is the first player to be knocked out of a grand slam tournament after missing only 2 shots," a user tweeted.
Novak Djokovic is the first player to be knocked out of a grand slam tournament after missing only 2 shots.#DjokovicGoHome pic.twitter.com/l7dXvzzOQW
— ABBA didn't get subpoenaed, (@Abba_Annabelle) January 15, 2022
A picture of Novak Djokovic playing in the Australian Open... pic.twitter.com/KsimleyE3r
— Shaun (@LfcShaunjudge) January 16, 2022
"Whoever wins Australian Open 2022 will be just the Number Two. Novak Djokovic is always The World Number One Tennis Player," another fan tweeted.
Whoever wins Australian Open 2022 will be just the Number Two. Novak Djokovic is always The World Number One Tennis Player
— Hoa Nguyen (@HoaNguy01811981) January 16, 2022
After months of speculations, Djokovic earlier this month announced that he will arrive in Australia to play the first Grand Slam of the year, saying that he has received a medical exemption.
But, on his arrival in Melbourne, he was kept at the airport for eight hours, before the Australian government cancelled his visa.
However, his visa was re-instated by a federal court judge Anthony Kelly after he and his lawyers had decided to appeal against the decision made by the Australian government.
Kelly had also asked the government to release Djokovic from quarantine in Melbourne.
But there's was a final twist in the tale as the Australian government cancelled his visa for the second time on Friday, earlier this week.
Novak Djokovic