Djokovic lands in Dubai after Australia deportation
Novak Djokovic landed in Dubai on Monday after being deported from Australia having lost a high-stakes legal battle over his coronavirus vaccination status, an journalist who travelled on the same plane reported.
The tennis star walked off the aircraft carrying two bags and wearing a mask, having landed at Dubai International Airport at 5:32 am local time.
The world number one was supposed to be the headline act in the opening night session of the Australian Open on Monday, but the unvaccinated Serbian is not defending his title after a court threw out his bid to stay in the country.
The Australian Open finally began at Melbourne Park on Monday after a chaotic and controversial build-up dominated by the visa saga that engulfed world number one Novak Djokovic.
Germany's Tatjana Maria struck the first serve of the opening Grand Slam of the year on Rod Laver Arena against Greece's Maria Sakkari, the fifth seed, in the women's singles.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka follows her on centre court with 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal concluding the afternoon action on an overcast and cool day, with crowds capped at 50 percent capacity due to coronavirus.
World number one Djokovic was supposed to be the headline act in the night session, but the unvaccinated Serbian is not defending his title after a court threw out his bid to stay in the country.
The 34-year-old flew out of Australia on Sunday night, his dreams of becoming the first man to win 21 majors over, at least for now, gifting Nadal the chance to instead be first to reach the milestone.
