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Serbia's president urges Djokovic to come home

Posted January 16, 2022 6:00 am

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC

Supporters of Serbia's Novak Djokovic listen to his ruling outside the lawyer's office of Djokovic in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Djokovic's hopes of playing at the Australian Open were dashed Sunday after a court dismissed the top-ranked tennis star's appeal against a deportation order. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) The Associated Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Serbia's president called on Novak Djokovic to return to his native country on Sunday hours after the top-ranked tennis player lost his court battle to play at the Australian Open and was deported.

Djokovic's final destination was not immediately clear. He left Australia after saying he was 'œdisappointed'ť with losing his appeal against deportation and adding that he needs 'œsome time to rest and to recuperate'ť after the 11-day saga.

A masked Djokovic was photographed in an Melbourne airport lounge with two government officials in black uniforms. He left on an Emirates flight to Dubai, the same transit point he used when he flew to Australia on Jan. 6 after departing from Marbella, Spain.

Djokovic released a statement shortly after three Australian Federal Court judges unanimously upheld a decision made on Friday by the country's immigration minister to cancel the 34-year-old Serb's visa on public interest grounds because he is not vaccinated for COVID-19.

Djokovic's visa was initially canceled on Jan. 6 by a border official who decided he didn't qualify for a medical exemption from Australia's rules for unvaccinated visitors. Djokovic was initially exempted from the tournament's vaccine rules because he had been infected with the virus within the previous six months.

In addition to his native Serbia, where he has an almost iconic status and overwhelming support, Djokovic could go to Marbella or Monaco where he has residences and where he has spent most of his time away from tennis.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused Australian authorities of 'œharassing'ť Djokovic and called the court ruling 'œa farce.'ť

He said he spoke to Djokovic on Sunday.

'œWe can't wait to see him in Serbia, to return to his country, to come where he is always welcome,'ť Vucic said.

'œThey think they humiliated Djokovic with this, the best player in the world, by the ten-day harassment, they humiliated themselves and Djokovic can return to his country with his head high up and look everyone in the eye.'ť

He did not say whether Djokovic confirmed he would go to Serbia after his deportation.

Djokovic's Belgrade-based family issued a statement Sunday, indicating Djokovic could be heading to Serbia.

'œWe will be here to share the blows he received, to help him regain his energy, his faith in this sport, above all in fair play, which was completely absent."

Serbian populist politicians, seizing on a potential opportunity to score popularity points ahead of Serbia's elections in April, as well as the majority of the public were dismayed by Djokovic's 'œordeal'ť in Australia.

'œIt is very sad that one of the greatest, world, planetary sportsmen has to experience something like that,'ť said Aleksandra Vukojevic, a Belgrade resident.

Other politicians were in tune with the overall reaction.

'œI think the decision is scandalous,'ť Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said. 'œI'm disappointed and I think it showed how the rule of law functions in some other countries, that is how the rule of law does not function. It is incredible to me how we have two totally opposed court decisions within just a few days.

'œAs the head of the government of the Republic of Serbia I am not happy, but we should not get too emotional,'ť Brnabic said. 'œIn any case, I can't wait to see Novak Djokovic in our country, in Serbia, so we can go through this together and so we can offer support in these difficult moments.'ť

Djokovic has won nine Australian Open titles, including three in a row, and a total of 20 Grand Slam singles trophies, tied with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most in the history of men's tennis.

The Serbian tennis association expressed 'œhuge disappointment'ť and described the decision to deport Djokovic as 'œpolitical.'ť

'œThis decision has only deprived the world from watching Novak's fight for the tenth Australian Open and 21st Grand Slam title," it said in a statement.

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Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed.

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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on a wall in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Novak Djokovic was preparing to leave Australia on Sunday evening after losing his final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19. A court earlier unanimously dismissed the No. 1-ranked tennis player's challenge to cancel his visa. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) The Associated Press

A man runs past a mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, reading: "With faith in God" on a wall in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Novak Djokovic was preparing to leave Australia on Sunday evening after losing his final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19. A court earlier unanimously dismissed the No. 1-ranked tennis player's challenge to cancel his visa. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) The Associated Press

A reflection of a mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on a wall in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Novak Djokovic was preparing to leave Australia on Sunday evening after losing his final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19. A court earlier unanimously dismissed the No. 1-ranked tennis player's challenge to cancel his visa. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) The Associated Press

A woman passes a mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, reading: "With faith in God" on a wall in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Novak Djokovic was preparing to leave Australia on Sunday evening after losing his final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19. A court earlier unanimously dismissed the No. 1-ranked tennis player's challenge to cancel his visa. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) The Associated Press

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