Caroline Baudry, edited by Clément Perruche with AFP
After many twists and turns, Novak Djokovic finally returned home on Monday in Belgrade. As soon as he arrived on Serbian soil, the tennis player was welcomed by a crowd of journalists from all over the world. Fans also made the trip to welcome their national hero.
Sladjan was present this Monday at Belgrade airport. “Novak is our idol. I think it’s a huge mistake by the Australian government to deport him. It’s a political decision. And besides, it’s his choice not to get vaccinated. If I could talk to him, I would tell him: ‘go on and win all the tournaments you participate in!'”
Discreet return to Belgrade
Contacted, the father of Novak Djokovic did not want to give more information on the program of his son in Belgrade. The champion did not make any statement on his arrival and left Belgrade airport through a back door. The champion is not expected to speak during the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic had been blocked on his arrival in Australia on January 5 and placed in administrative detention for the first time. The player, who said he contracted Covid-19 in December, had hoped for an exemption to enter the country without being vaccinated, but the authorities had not accepted this explanation.
Judicial failure for Djokovic
The Australian government suffered a humiliating setback on January 10 when a judge blocked Djokovic’s deportation, reinstated his visa and ordered his immediate release. But the Minister of Immigration had counterattacked on Friday and canceled his visa for the second time on Friday under his discretionary powers, citing “health and public order reasons”.
Sunday after the hearing, Djokovic was taken back to the Park Hotel, the austere detention center for foreigners in an irregular situation. He left Melbourne on Sunday evening. In a statement released on Wednesday, the tennis player admitted to having filled out his declaration of entry into Australia incorrectly.