Tiley denies reports Djokovic is planning to sue Tennis Australia over deportation

World No 1 was deported after losing his appeal against his visa cancellation

Novak Djokovic arrived in Belgrade on Monday, January 17, 2022. Djokovic landed in the Serbian capital following his deportation from Australia on Sunday after losing a bid to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title. Reuters

Novak Djokovic arrives at Nikola Tesla Airport, after the Australian Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa to play in the Australian Open. Reuters

Djokovic arrived in Belgrade following his deportation from Australia on Sunday after losing a bid to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title over his vaccination status. AP

Novak Djokovic at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, Serbia. Reuters

A plane from Dubai carrying Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic arrives at Nikola Tesla airport. Reuters

Journalists wait outside the VIP terminal at the Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade, Serbia. AP

Border police officers outside the VIP terminal at the Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade, Serbia. AP

Supporters Novak Djokovic gather at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade. EPA

People holds Serbian national flags while waiting outside the VIP exit of Belgrade's international airport. AFP

Belgrade Tower is illuminated in the national colours and a message reading "Nole" in support of tennis player Novak Djokovic in Belgrade, Serbia. Reuters

A combination made of pictures taken in Belgrade shows the Belgrade Tower, still under construction, being illuminated with the national colours and a message reading "Nole, you are the pride of Serbia", in support of the Serbian tennis player. AFP

A local resident walks past a mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in Belgrade. Tennis star Novak Djokovic on January 16, 2022 lost his fight against deportation from Australia. AFP

A billboard depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is seen on the side of a building in Belgrade. AFP

A local resident walks past a mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in Belgrade. Many in his native Serbia reacted with fury to a federal court ruling cancelling his Australian visa, calling it a "shameful farce". AFP

A mural depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic on a wall in Belgrade, Serbia. AP Photo

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley has denied reports claiming Novak Djokovic is planning to sue Tennis Australia following his deportation from the country, and believes the world No 1 will return to play at the Grand Slam next year.

Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open a record nine times including the past three years, was prevented from defending his title after a federal court dismissed his appeal against his visa cancellation.

Reports have since surfaced that Djokovic was planning to sue Tennis Australia, but chief executive Tiley denied that was the case in an interview with broadcaster ABC on Sunday.

"No," Tiley, the tournament director for the major, said when asked about the threat of legal action. "There is going to be lots of reports on different things, but we are in a position as we focus on delivering an event right now, and we will continue to deliver a great event."

While Djokovic could face a three-year ban from travelling to Australia as a result of his deportation, Tiley said he thought the 20-time Grand Slam winner would be at Melbourne Park next year.

"Obviously, he's got to play out this year, but that will be his intention," he said. "At the end of the day, he's the number one player in the world and he really loves the Australian Open."

Tiley blamed miscommunication with the federal government for the issues that resulted in Djokovic being kicked out of Australia.

"It was an incredibly challenging environment," he said. "One or two bits of communication doesn't define all the amounts of communication that continued to go on leading into the event.

"We knew we were going to have a difficult period and that's why there was a lot of contradiction and complexity with information."

Tiley also played down an incident involving Australia's Nick Kyrgios, who alleged that a coach and trainer of world No 1 doubles pair Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic had threatened to fight after their match on Friday.

Kyrgios and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis upset Mektic and Pavic in straight sets and Kyrgios said on Saturday that ill will from the match spilled over into the players' gym.

"I have spoken to Nick and the team and this is not unusual, it's not uncommon ... Nick and Thanasi have moved on," Tiley told Channel 9.

Pressed further on the incident, Tiley said: "We'll continue to look closely at that. What's not unusual and what's not uncommon is the passion, but certainly there are rules and there's conditions around how you respond at the end of the match."