Serbia's Novak Djokovic is on his way home to Belgrade after a brief transit in Dubai following his deportation from Australia.
The Associated Press posted a picture of the 34-year-old Djokovic preparing to take his seat on a plane to Belgrade Monday morning following a brief stay in the UAE.
Djokovic was deported from Australia on Sunday after losing a bid to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title despite not being vaccinated against Covid-19.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion is assured of a hero's welcome on his return to his homeland, with many supporters outraged by his treatment by the Australian authorities in Melbourne.
Earlier Monday, Djokovic, 34, stepped off an Emirates plane carrying two bags and wearing a mask while posing for selfies with fellow passengers who disembarked Emirates flight EK409.
The world No 1 flew out of Melbourne late on Sunday after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa, capping days of drama over the country's Covid-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status.
The ruling dealt a final blow to Djokovic's hopes of chasing a record 21st Grand Slam win at the Australian Open, which started on Monday.
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Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks with his team after landing at Dubai International Airport on January 17, 2022 after the Australian Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa to play in the Australian Open. Reuters -
Novak Djokovic walks through Dubai International Airport after landing from Melbourne where he was deported on Sunday. Reuters -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic after landing in Dubai. Reuters -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. Reuters -
Novak Djokovic lost his appeal Sunday after the Australian government cancelled his visa for a second time. Reuters -
World No 1 men's tennis player Novak Djokovic walks with his team at Dubai Airport. Reuters -
Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie. Reuters -
Novak Djokovic seen walking through Dubai International Airport shortly after arriving from Melbourne. Reuters -
Serbia's tennis champion Novak Djokovic disembarks from a plane at the airport in Dubai. AFP -
Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie after landing at Dubai Airport. Reuters -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Reuters -
Novak Djokovic walks through departures at Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Reuters -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport escorted by aides. Reuters -
A Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne. Reuters -
This screen grab taken from AFPTV shows a Dubai-bound plane carrying Serbia's Novak Djokovic preparing to depart from Melbourne Airport on January 16, 2022, after Djokovc lost a legal battle over his coronavirus vaccination status with his dream of clinching a record 21st Grand Slam in tatters. AFP
Djokovic, a nine-time winner at Melbourne Park, is tied on 20 majors alongside great rivals Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer.
He will now have to wait until the French Open in May for another attempt at becoming the most successful men's player at Grand Slams outright.
Djokovic was escorted to Melbourne Airport by Australian Border Force officials, who formed a guard around the player in an airport lounge before taking him to the door of the plane.
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Novak is appealing Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's use of discretionary powers to cancel his visa again on the grounds that he was a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amidst Australia's worst outbreak of the virus. AFP -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs the Park Hotel while under immigration detention, to convene with his legal team after his visa to play in the Australian Open was cancelled a second time, in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. Reuters -
Three Federal Court judges will decide the fate of the world No 1 after a rollercoaster 10 days that saw him detained by immigration authorities, released and then detained again ahead of a tournament that starts on Monday. Reuters -
Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic gather outside the offices of Djokovic's legal team, as they listen to an audio court hearing. Getty Images -
Supporters of tennis player Novak Djokovic wave national flags as they gather in front of Federal Court building in Melbourne. AFP -
Goran Zabic, a Serbian supporter of tennis player Novak Djokovic, arrives in front of the office of Djokovic's lawyers on January 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images -
Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic hold their flags outside the Federal Court building in Melbourne. AP Photo -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs the Park Hotel while under immigration detention, to convene with his legal team. Reuters -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is photographed as he is transported from an Immigration Hotel in Melbourne. EPA -
The Serb, 34, was escorted to his lawyers office by immigration officials to attend the virtual court hearing on Sunday morning, having spent Saturday night back in an immigration detention hotel in Melbourne. Getty Images -
Media attempt to photograph Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic as he is transported from an Immigration Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. EPA -
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs the Park Hotel while under immigration detention. Reuters -
Supporters of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic gather outside the offices of Djokovic's legal team on January 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Djokovic lost his attempt to overturn his deportation with the judges ruling unanimously to uphold the Australian government decision to cancel his visa. Getty Images -
Members of the media wait outside the car park of the office of the legal team of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. Getty Images -
Supporters of Novak Djokovic hold national flags as they gather in front of Federal Court building . AFP
While his coach Goran Ivanisevic and two others in his entourage were seated in business class, Djokovic was afforded the privacy of first class for the overnight 14-hour Emirates flight.
While he was in the air from Melbourne to Dubai, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison left the door open for him to compete at next year's Australian Open despite an automatic three-year ban from entering the country.
Morrison noted there was scope for that three-year ban to be waived "in the right circumstances".
Djokovic, however, did not appear to be in the mood to contemplate a return to Australia, ignoring a shouted question in Dubai about whether he planned to attempt a return Down Under, according to Reuters.
