![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CUFHA54TK5QQFI5H7C4KCAACVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3098b0d445135981e6bac68ba4227fe189e6c5f738339d404f443f7d02448e0&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QQDBECEPHALW4GZJPNMGPDKEYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=476d3c7721dcbc092f6d2ae2ed3c37fb947eaf079f6af720ece8340128f698c6&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HX4FIT7E6JINSNTL46S2MDEKEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=34693113dfa6d842cf01b17218cef145778ca6d9b0cd35d590e22451705afbe6&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic walks through Dubai International Airport after landing from Melbourne where he was deported on Sunday. Reuters
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Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic after landing in Dubai. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5DNH6EXDG3P2GOXYOXX3Z5THZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=799b56d9b88a8172a109908b9a5dd3c514122efec59b91ac44e1c89428b9beb5&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SOVHFTINBGZLQ2O7IGZD5GNQEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c7830368392ce42f88dba4c25f10b3adda0e834ac1b6c0db93178da8d79920c&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic lost his appeal Sunday after the Australian government cancelled his visa for a second time. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQJKMANRS27YZTGQV7DCQTB7CU.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa2571c67bc25bead5f17359962296429defff7e2deb1cc91985c38bdee26d12&width=400&height=225)
World No 1 men's tennis player Novak Djokovic walks with his team at Dubai Airport. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FRFQCHK2N53DMLRTYRC76RMIFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b16b764fd678199935b1a9dba3c24cf8b9d0a9912d425b146bb570d52fe9be6&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NHE2WRMZR44BLOS7S5LZHHMJRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0db358f86eafdf41a5f21beb785f51240e621fce9ccde5984181ee4fe9243fb&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic seen walking through Dubai International Airport shortly after arriving from Melbourne. Reuters
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Serbia's tennis champion Novak Djokovic disembarks from a plane at the airport in Dubai. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F3REHY4BMFHHL3R3YKZVGZHTPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=85a133fce0c40fb50b1de4793a2047fd5bf6dc044200f340d137305ffcdaa8b8&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie after landing at Dubai Airport. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6HALPFWWKFO6HLCYJ247EMTYUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=61714e92484ef2238d215441b31aaa7b35488d33c845adf2a1285dabefd26cdf&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYXMSUB7G6J3HPU47EBAX6ZFOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3244fe2c30ed681df9c51f41e068cd31bf2126d5c1f73486eca865a8fa92da3&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic walks through departures at Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RTJYQ4E7OYOUWVKFWKIHJKNZWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c9cc0eeec4a435505d29ddd3cbb5ec89586d6aaaa3bed0ce8c6f391d6441cfd&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport escorted by aides. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7HJI7SUVIKMZUW36T7UKTWUCCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=69073c4684f413371e090614b9682485fffb4e59106265b80926207eda84a8ee&width=400&height=225)
A Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CUFHA54TK5QQFI5H7C4KCAACVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3098b0d445135981e6bac68ba4227fe189e6c5f738339d404f443f7d02448e0&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QQDBECEPHALW4GZJPNMGPDKEYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=476d3c7721dcbc092f6d2ae2ed3c37fb947eaf079f6af720ece8340128f698c6&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HX4FIT7E6JINSNTL46S2MDEKEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=34693113dfa6d842cf01b17218cef145778ca6d9b0cd35d590e22451705afbe6&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic walks through Dubai International Airport after landing from Melbourne where he was deported on Sunday. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S7LQI4LTUTKJ64TCTTMORYPWRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=df23f6da7543e9054c4992280bdb1a53288199399798c1a4f34bb60d9f361de6&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic after landing in Dubai. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5DNH6EXDG3P2GOXYOXX3Z5THZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=799b56d9b88a8172a109908b9a5dd3c514122efec59b91ac44e1c89428b9beb5&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SOVHFTINBGZLQ2O7IGZD5GNQEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c7830368392ce42f88dba4c25f10b3adda0e834ac1b6c0db93178da8d79920c&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic lost his appeal Sunday after the Australian government cancelled his visa for a second time. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQJKMANRS27YZTGQV7DCQTB7CU.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa2571c67bc25bead5f17359962296429defff7e2deb1cc91985c38bdee26d12&width=400&height=225)
World No 1 men's tennis player Novak Djokovic walks with his team at Dubai Airport. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FRFQCHK2N53DMLRTYRC76RMIFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b16b764fd678199935b1a9dba3c24cf8b9d0a9912d425b146bb570d52fe9be6&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NHE2WRMZR44BLOS7S5LZHHMJRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0db358f86eafdf41a5f21beb785f51240e621fce9ccde5984181ee4fe9243fb&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic seen walking through Dubai International Airport shortly after arriving from Melbourne. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZD7TP4ZOJUC3REAZKWJ6C4LVRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=297b560f5141db95cc4112fb3c67cd0ed76c5b3881ffc1f162151d6852c909b5&width=400&height=225)
Serbia's tennis champion Novak Djokovic disembarks from a plane at the airport in Dubai. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F3REHY4BMFHHL3R3YKZVGZHTPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=85a133fce0c40fb50b1de4793a2047fd5bf6dc044200f340d137305ffcdaa8b8&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie after landing at Dubai Airport. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6HALPFWWKFO6HLCYJ247EMTYUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=61714e92484ef2238d215441b31aaa7b35488d33c845adf2a1285dabefd26cdf&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NYXMSUB7G6J3HPU47EBAX6ZFOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3244fe2c30ed681df9c51f41e068cd31bf2126d5c1f73486eca865a8fa92da3&width=400&height=225)
Novak Djokovic walks through departures at Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RTJYQ4E7OYOUWVKFWKIHJKNZWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c9cc0eeec4a435505d29ddd3cbb5ec89586d6aaaa3bed0ce8c6f391d6441cfd&width=400&height=225)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport escorted by aides. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7HJI7SUVIKMZUW36T7UKTWUCCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=69073c4684f413371e090614b9682485fffb4e59106265b80926207eda84a8ee&width=400&height=225)
A Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CUFHA54TK5QQFI5H7C4KCAACVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3098b0d445135981e6bac68ba4227fe189e6c5f738339d404f443f7d02448e0&width=400&height=225)
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
Novak Djokovic touches down in Dubai after Australia deportation
World No 1 stepped off an Emirates plane Monday morning carrying two bags and wearing a mask, his final destination unknown
![Steve Luckings](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fc3f09fc7-120b-42cf-8d44-356b28942fc4.png?smart=true&auth=a93b70171c6cc57bca013126f7257d62461086283c1cf22d9d4adcdbc940d865&width=70&height=70)
Steve Luckings
17 January, 2022
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