Djokovic case live online: Novak deported after losing Australia visa appeal: latest news

TENNIS

Djokovic banned from Australia for three years, federal government confirms

Karen Andrews, Australia's minister for home affairs, has confirmed Novak Djokovic will be banned from Australia for three years.

Djokovic decision reaction

French women’s number one took to Twitter with a sympathetic tone:

“I know too little to judge the situation.

"What I know is that Novak is always the first one to stand for the players. But none of us stood for him. Be strong.”

She quickly followed this with:

"And people ... don't call me Anti-vaxx, PLEASE thank you."

Djokovic decision reaction

Novak is someone I have known since we were 12 years old, he is someone who I respect and have competed against. I don’t like that he is in this situation and I don’t like that he has been in detention.

The situation has not been good all round for anyone. It feels everything here happened extremely last-minute and that’s why it became such a mess. Hopefully that won’t be the case at other events so there is no other situation like this.

I wouldn’t want that for Novak, don’t want that for tennis and hopefully it is done now.

TENNIS

Djokovic: which Grand Slams can the world number one still play at?

After being denied a run at his 21st Grand Slam in Australia, unvaccinated world number one Novak Djokovic will target Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, but he will in all likelihood be prevented from playing at Flushing Meadows unless he rolls up a sleeve.

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Djokovic's family say decision based on "politics and other interests"

Novak Djokovic's family said on Sunday they were "very dissapointed" with Australian authorities's decision to revoke his visa and deport him from the country.

"We are very disappointed with the decision of the Federal Court and the fact that Novak has to leave Australia," the family said in a statement.

"Despite the scandalous behavior towards Novak, we believed that the sport would win," it said.

It also said the court ruling was related with "politics and all (other) interests."

Novak Djokovic (right) at Melbourne airport before boarding a flight bound for Dubai on Sunday.

(Photo: REUTERS/Loren Elliott)

Djokovic ruling a "political" decision - Serbian president

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says the rejection of Novak Djokovic’s appeal against the cancellation of his Australian visa is a “political” decision.

“All of us are very much disappointed with the court’s ruling in Australia and this decision,” Vucic told reporters on Sunday.

Vucic continued: “We believe that it was more political than a decision made by the Australian judiciary.

"It would have been very easy for the Australian authorities to say from the very beginning that only vaccinated people could enter Australian territory. But they didn’t say so. They were saying a completely different story, including these medical exemptions.”

Vucic added that he has spoken to Djokovic, according to Reuters. “I told him he is always welcome in Serbia.”

Djokovic ruling "scandalous", says Serbian PM

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic has branded the decision to reject Novak Djokovic's appeal against the cancellation of his Australian visa as "scandalous".

"I think the court decision is scandalous...I find it unbelievable that we have two completely contradictory court decisions within the span of just a few days," Brnabic told reporters in Belgrade, in quotes published by Reuters.

"I am disappointed...I think it demonstrated how the rule of law is functioning or better to say not functioning in some other countries. In any case, I can hardly wait to see Novak Djokovic in our own country, in Serbia."

Djokovic flies to Dubai after visa appeal dismissed

Novak Djokovic is now on a flight to Dubai following the rejection of his court appeal against the cancellation of his Australian visa. Per Reuters, the Serb was seen boarding an Emirates flight to the UAE on Sunday evening local time. According to reports elsewhere, the flight was due to depart at 10:30pm local time.

Immigration minister's statement on Djokovic decision

Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has released a statement welcoming the Federal Court of Australia’s decision to uphold his cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s visa.

“Australia’s strong border protection policies have kept us safe during the pandemic, resulting in one of the lowest death rates, strongest economic recoveries, and highest vaccination rates in the world […],” Hawke said.

“Australians have made great sacrifices to get to this point and the Morrison Government is firmly committed to protecting this position, as the Australian people expect.”

Australian PM releases statement on Djokovic ruling

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed the Federal Court of Australia’s rejection of Novak Djokovic’s appeal.

In a statement, Morrison said: “This cancellation decision was made on health, safety and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.

“I welcome the decision to keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe.

“As I said Friday, Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected.”

Kyrgios tweets 'face palm' reaction to Djokovic decision

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, who came out in defence of Djokovic in recent days, has reacted to the Federal Court of Australia's decision, posting a 'face palm' emoji on Twitter:

Tennis Australia reacts to court decision

Tennis Australia, the organiser of the Australian Open, has released a statement saying it "respects" the Federal Court of Australia's rejection of Novak Djokovic's appeal.

The body has also confirmed that the number-one seed will be replaced in the draw by a lucky loser from tournament qualifying. That luck loser is Italy's Salvatore Caruso, who now faces Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.

"Tennis Australia respects the decision of the Federal Court," the statement says.

“As per Grand Slam rules, the No. 1 position in the draw has been filled by a Lucky Loser. The updated schedule for Monday 17 January can be viewed at ausopen.com.

“We look forward to a competitive and exciting Australian Open 2022 and wish all players the best of luck.”

Djokovic "extremely disappointed"

In a statement released in the wake of the Federal Court of Australia's ruling, Novak Djokovic has said: “I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.

“I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.

“I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love.”

Djokovic faces deportation after losing Australian visa appeal

At 5:45pm local time, Chief Justice James Allsop of the Federal Court of Australia announced that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's decision to revoke Djokovic's visa has been upheld. The court's three judges - Chief Justice Allsop, Justice Anthony Besanko and Justice David O’Callaghan - ruled unanimously, and have ordered Djokovic to pay the costs of his legal challenge.

The court will release its reasons for the ruling at a later date, Allsop said.

Here's the full story on today's breaking news

(Photo by MARTIN KEEP / AFP)

Live udpates as Djokovic's visa appeal dismissed: welcome

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Novak Djokovic saga in Australia, where a Melbourne court has within the last couple of hours dismissed the tennis star's legal challenge against the cancellation of his visa.