Humiliated Novak Djokovic has landed back in Serbia to a hero's welcome after being deported from Australia ahead of the Australian Grand Slam starting today.
The defeated tennis star was booted out of Melbourne after the Australian government cancelled his visa for the second time following a legal battle - and banned him from entering the country for another three years.
He now faces being ousted from the French Open after politicians voted in a law banning all unvaccinated people from entering sports areas.
A mask-wearing Djokovic, 34, took selfies with staff and fans after touching down in the Serbian capital Belgrade on a flight from Dubai after his name was taped over on the official Australian Open draw.
Fans gathered outside Belgrade's Nikola Tesla airport on Monday morning chanting 'You are our champion, Novak!' as the tennis star touched down.
Supporters held a banner reading 'Novak, God bless you', and waved Serbian flags as the tennis star received a hero's welcome in his home city.
Djokovic left Australia late on Sunday night after 11 days of remarkable legal wrangling saw the tennis champion finally exhaust his options.
He was escorted to Melbourne Airport by police on Sunday evening and boarded an Emirates flight to Dubai about 10.30pm, before an onward journey to Belgrade.
The Australian Open will go ahead without the 2021 champion today, with world No.150 Salvatore Caruso taking Djokovic's place at the top of the draw.
But there are concerns the absence of the defending champion may cast a shadow over this year's tournament - with suggestions there should be an asterisk against the name of the eventual winner because they will not have faced the Serb.
Humiliated Novak Djokovic touched down in Belgrade, Serbia, this morning after he and his entourage were deported from Australia following a week-long battle of the unvaccinated tennis star's visa
Djokovic, seen landing in Belgrade on Monday, now faces being ousted from the French Open after politicians voted in a law banning all unvaccinated people from entering sports areas
The defeated tennis star posed for selfies with fans as he enjoyed a hero's welcome in Belgrade on Monday despite being deported from Australia and banned from entering the country for three years
Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, may now face trouble playing at the next Grand Slam in Paris after the French government passed a law banning unvaccinated people from sports stadiums
Novak Djokovic arrived at Nikola Tesla Airport on Monday morning after touching down from Melbourne after he was deported amid a row over the unvaccinated player's visa
Fans, some carrying Serbian flags, gathered outside the airport in the Serbian capital Belgrade as tennis star Novak Djokovic touched down after being deported from Australia
Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic landed in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, on Monday to a hero's welcome after being deported from Australia amid a visa debacle
Supporters of Novak Djokovic hold a banner reading 'Novak, God bless you' outside Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport on Monday as the tennis star receives a hero's welcome
Fans of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic wave national flags as they wait for his arrival at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade on Monday
A support of Djokovic flies a flag as he welcomes the defeated tennis player home on Monday as the Australian Open gets underway without the 2021 champion
Djokovic touched down on a Fly Dubai plane in Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport on Monday as the Australian Open kicked off in Melbourne
Djokovic and his brother were seen leaving Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport on Monday after the tennis star touched down from Dubai
Djokovic could also face more trouble at the next Grand Slam - after France insisted on a Covid pass barring the unvaccinated from all sports arenas.
The French Open is the next Slam in the tennis calendar taking place in May and Djokovic was expected to participate without complication - but the new Covid Pass has changed that.
France's lower house voted by 215 to 58 to give final approval to a vaccine pass that will exclude the unvaccinated from restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.
It will apply to everybody over the age of 16 and the law is expected to take effect by the end of the week, throwing Djokovic's appearance at Roland Garros into doubt.
'The rule is simple. The vaccine pass will be imposed, as soon as the law is promulgated, in establishments that were already subject to the health pass,' the ministry said in a statement today.
'This will apply to everyone who is a spectator or a professional sportsperson. And this until further notice.
'Now, as far as Roland Garros is concerned, it's in May. The situation may change between now and then and we hope that it will be more favourable. So we'll see, but clearly there's no exemption.'
Stanislas Guerin, who represents the 17th and 18th arrondissements in Paris, said: 'Djokovic's behaviour was irresponsible. Australia is a sovereign country which makes it rules and the rules should be respected.
'We can't have two weights and two measures regarding the Covid Pass. If you are called Djokovic, Nadal or Mr Whoever, you respect the rules.
'All the big events which will take place in France will adopt the Covid Pass. Who would understand if we asked our citizens to make an effort and respect the rules and we then authorised some to get out of them?'
Humiliated Novak Djokovic touched down in Dubai (pictured) to hear confirmation he has been banned from entering Australia for three years after his visa was cancelled
There are concerns that this year's grand slam title winner will be undermined by the absence of defending champion Novak Djokovic (pictured arriving in Dubai on Monday)
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 (pictured, Djokovic's arrival in Dubai on Monday)
But as he touched down in the United Arab Emirates, the Australia Open was kicking off without him in Melbourne (pictured, Djokovic's arrival in Dubai on Monday)
Novak Djokovic arrived at Dubai airport on Monday carrying his tennis racquets (pictured) after he was kicked out before he could defend his Australian Open crown
In an interview with the Today Show on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed the three year ban was the outcome of the court decision (pictured, Djokovic's arrival in Dubai on Monday)
Novak Djokovic (pictured) left Australia late on Sunday night after 11 days of remarkable legal wrangling saw the tennis champion finally exhaust his options
In an interview with the Today Show on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews confirmed the three year ban was the outcome of the court decision.
'The visa was cancelled by [Immigration] Minister Hawke,' Ms Andrews said.
'That cancellation was upheld by the Federal Court, so as a result of that, he will be banned from entry for three years into the country.'
Ms Andrews said should Djokovic return to Australia with compelling reasons in the future 'that may be looked at but that's all hypothetical at this point.'
Djokovic left Australia late on Sunday night after 11 days of remarkable legal wrangling saw the tennis champion finally exhaust his options, with the full bench of the Federal Court siding with Minister Hawke.
Djokovic lost his last-ditch bid to stay in Melbourne and compete in the Australian Open on Sunday after three federal court judges unanimously ruled he did not have grounds to dispute Mr Hawke's visa cancellation.
But the controversial decision was met with shock by his fans, family and politicians back in Serbia, with Djokovic's outraged father labelling it an 'assassination attempt' against his son and President Aleksandar Vucic accused Australian officials of 'lying'.
But Scott Morrison, and millions of Australians, supported the move, with the prime minister saying he 'welcomed the decision to keep our borders strong'.
He did add that despite the three-year ban there could be room for the tennis ace to travel back to Australia.
'It does go over a three-year period but there is the opportunity for them to return in the right circumstances, and that will be considered at the time'.
Mr Morrison was also forced to dismiss bizarre claims by the Serbian president that the tennis superstar's prolonged stints in immigration detention amounted to 'physical torture'.
'Well, it's very clear that Australia has not tortured Mr Djokovic.' Mr Morrison told 2GB on Monday.
He was escorted to Melbourne Airport by police on Sunday evening and boarded an Emirates flight to Dubai about 10.30pm, and will transit on to Spain (pictured, Djokovic's arrival in Dubai on Monday)
Novak Djokovic's outraged father labelled it an 'assassination attempt' against his son and President Aleksandar Vucic accused Australian officials of 'lying' (pictured, Djokovic's arrival in Dubai on Monday)
Some have suggested there should be an asterisk against the name of whoever wins the trophy in 2022 because they would not have faced the Serb.
But Nick Kyrgios' first round opponent Liam Brody has dismissed the idea.
'I hate the argument that there should be an asterisk next to this years winner of the Australian Open,' he posted on Twitter.
'That would mean every tournament that the world number 1 doesn't play should have an asterisk next to it.
'For most of the 60s the best players didn't even play the slams.'
He added: 'I love Novak I think he is the GOAT [greatest of all-time] but if you think for a single second whoever wins the Australian Open will be thinking anything about Novak playing or not once they've lifted the trophy then you are mad.'
Novak Djokovic's name is taped over (pictured) on the official draw for the Australian Open Grand Slam after the former top seed was ordered to leave the country
Crowds braved the risk of Covid infection on the first day of the Australian Open on Monday (pictured)
Crowds turned out in force at the Australian Open (pictured) despite the missing champ
Tennis fans wore masks and checked in at the Australian Open on Monday (pictured)
Djokovic (pictured with team at Melbourne Airport on Sunday night) organised to leave Australia within hours of losing his appeal
Novak Djokovic is escorted through Melbourne Airport on Sunday night (pictured centre)
The prominent Belgrade Tower in the Serbian capital was lit up with Djokovic's nickname 'Nole' overnight (pictured)
The 34-year-old, who has been ordered to pay the federal government's legal costs, said he was 'extremely disappointed' with the court's decision to dismiss his application but that he respected its ruling.
Ms Andrews on Monday acknowledged there were some 'issues' around the interview process after the world No.1 was stopped at Melbourne Airport but Djokovic was not entitled to enter the country - despite being granted a visa before arriving.
'Anyone coming into Australia it is their responsibility that they are meeting the entry requirements... just because you have a valid visa does not guarantee you will be able to enter Australia,' she said.
'What was given to Mr Djokovic on arrival in Australia - before he cleared our immigration processes - was the opportunity to be able to produce the documentation that was needed, which he could not.'
Djokovic looks down at his phone as he is marched through Melbourne Airport on Sunday night (pictured) before taking an Emirates flight to Dubai
AFP officers stand nearby as tennis superstar Novak Djokovic (pictured back right) sits ands waits for his flight out of Australia
'He wasn't fully-vaccinated, which is a requirement. If you are not you have to be able to provide medical evidence to support there is a medical reason why you can't be vaccinated - that was the issue at the border.'
The world No.1 was required to prove to the court that Mr Hawke acted irrationally or legally unreasonably in choosing to use his discretionary powers under section 133C (3) of the Migration Act to revoke Djokovic's visa.
Chief justice of the Federal Court of Australia, James Allsop pointed out it was 'no part of the function of the court to decide upon the merits or wisdom' of the immigration minister's decision but had to view the case on a legal basis.
Mr Hawke said his decision on Friday was based on 'health and good order grounds', claiming the unvaccinated sporting celebrity's presence in Australia could excite anti-vaccination sentiment.
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