Novak Djokovic welcomed in Serbia after Australia deportation over visa row: You are our champion

Novak Djokovic arrived residence in Serbia on Monday after Australia deported the world males’s tennis No. 1 for not having a COVID-19 vaccine. Novak Djokovic lands in Serbia after deportation from Australia (AP Photo)HIGHLIGHTSNovak Djokovic returned to Serbia after Australia deportationDjokovic’s supporters chanted his title exterior Belgrade airportDjokovic was denied bid for twenty first Grand Slam after vaccine rowNovak Djokovic landed in his native Serbia after being deported from Australia as a result of he was not vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19, ending his hopes of defending his Australian Open title. “You are our champion, Novak!” chanted supporters, some waving nationwide flags, exterior Belgrade airport.

Djokovic had received 9 Australian Open titles, together with three in a row, and a complete of 20 Grand Slam singles trophies, tied with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for essentially the most within the historical past of males’s tennis. Federer isn’t enjoying whereas recovering from harm, and Nadal is the one former Australian Open males’s champion within the match that started on Monday.A aircraft carrying the No. 1-ranked participant from his stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, touched down within the Serbian capital, Belgrade, the place he obtained a hero’s welcome and a handful of followers waving the Serbian flag greeted him on the airport.Djokovic had argued in an Australian court docket that he needs to be allowed to remain and compete as a result of a latest coronavirus an infection meant he was exempt from strict vaccination guidelines. But Australian authorities cited the general public curiosity in revoking his visa, saying his presence may fire up anti-vaccine sentiments and that kicking him out was essential to preserve Australians protected.Vaccination amid the pandemic was a requirement for anybody on the Australian Open, whether or not gamers, their coaches or anybody on the match web site. More than 95% of all Top 100 women and men of their excursions’ respective rankings are vaccinated. At least two males — American Tennys Sandgren and Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert — skipped the primary main match of the 12 months as a result of vaccine requirement.Djokovic’s try to get a medical exemption for not being vaccinated sparked anger in Australia, the place strict lockdowns in cities and curbs on worldwide journey have been employed to attempt to management the unfold of coronavirus for the reason that pandemic started.Click right here for IndiaToday.in’s full protection of the coronavirus pandemic.