No title defence for No 1 as Djokovic leaves Australia
   Date :17-Jan-2022

Djokovic leaves
 
 
MELBOURNE :
 
INSTEAD of starting the defence of his Australian Open title on Monday, Novak Djokovic had to leave the country, a stunning and unprecedented end to his run of success at Melbourne Park. Djokovic has won nine of his 20 Grand Slam trophies at the Australian Open — including three in a row — and was scheduled to play in the main stadium to conclude Day 1 of the tournament. But the No 1 ranked player in men’s tennis left Australia after three Federal Court judges decided unanimously on Sunday to affirm the immigration minister’s right to cancel Djokovic’s visa. The ruling was made less than 18 hours before the first Grand Slam matches of 2022 were scheduled to begin. Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” by the legal outcome but respected the decision.
 
He also said he planned “to rest and to recuperate”. He tried to use a medical exemption approved by two independent medical panels and Tennis Australia to get around the requirements that everyone at the Australian Open — players, their support teams, spectators and others — be inoculated against COVID-19. Djokovic is not vaccinated and the Government said his presence could stir up anti-vaccine sentiments. The saga started on January 5, when Djokovic’s flight landed at a Melbourne airport. “I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me,” he said on Sunday, “and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love.”
 
Tennis Australia issued a statement saying it “respects the decision of the Federal Court” and added: “We look forward to a competitive and exciting Australian Open 2022 and wish all players the best of luck.” Djokovic’s absence means just one past champion is in the men’s bracket: 2009 winner Rafael Nadal. And that also means now it is only Nadal who will have a chance to claim a 21st Grand Slam title and break a tie with Djokovic and Roger Federer (who is sidelined after a series of knee operations).