A crowd awaited him at Belgrade airport as Novak Djokovic landed in Serbia at noon on Monday. The Serbian, who was expelled from Australia on Sunday, had stopped in Dubai hours earlier. But he immediately left the infrastructure through the back door.
“There is no point in waiting, he has already left through the other door,” a security officer told the numerous journalists present. Another employee explained to AFP that the star left through a “technical exit.” Dozens of fans gathered in front of the airport to greet their idol, enthusiastically waving Serbian flags.
“Novak is number one for us and for the world. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, we will support him,” Djurdja Avramov, whose son wore a T-shirt with a heart and the word “Nole,” Djokovic’s nickname in Serbia, told AFP. “I’m a fan, and what they did to her is a disgrace,” added Dragica, a pensioner who did not want to give her last name. “I love it, I’m 71 and my legs hurt, but I came anyway. »
The 34-year-old champion left Melbourne with his trainers on Sunday night after Australia’s Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa, ending an 11-day drama over entry rules while the champion refuses to be vaccinated. against Covid. He stepped off the plane wearing a mask and carrying two bags after landing at Dubai International Airport at 5:32 a.m. local time (2:32 a.m. French time), an hour and a half after the world’s first Grand Slam tournament began. season. Titleholder Djoko was hoping to claim his 10th victory there, as well as a record 21st Grand Slam title.
Novak Djokovic was expected to headline the first day of the Australian Open. It was the Greek Maria Sakkari who began the fighting on the Rod Laver court, where she was replaced by the current champion Naomi Osaka, then Rafael Nadal. On the main court at the end of the program, Alexander Zverev was supposed to meet, whose match was postponed to replace Novak Djokovic’s match.
“I am extremely disappointed,” Djokovic responded in a statement on Sunday. “I feel bad that the spotlight has been on me over the past few weeks and I hope we can all now focus on the game and tournament that I enjoy,” Djokovic said in a statement before flying out of Melbourne. “I will now need time to rest and recover,” said the player, whose career, at least in Australia, could be badly damaged by the case.
Scott Morrison opens the door to return for at least three years
“This decision to cancel was made on grounds of health, safety and order on the basis that it was in the public interest,” Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison told radio early Monday morning. Under immigration law, Djokovic cannot be granted another visa for three years unless Australia’s immigration minister accepts compelling or compassionate reasons.
“I am not going to set any preconditions or say anything that would prevent the minister from making the various decisions that he must make,” the head of government assured on 2GB radio on Monday, “this is a matter of three to three years.” ” within a year, but there is an opportunity for (the person) to return under the right circumstances and this will be considered at that time.”
Airline staff escorted Djokovic in a terminal buggy to the gate for his flight to Belgrade, where he checked in alone.
Source: Le Parisien
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