Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic arrived back home in Belgrade Monday January 16 after his deportation from Australia over his coronavirus vaccination status.
His deportation from Australia has demolished his dream of earning a record 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
The dramatic deportation followed a protracted, high-stakes legal battle between 34-year-old Djokovic and the Australian authorities that polarised opinion and tarnished reputations on both sides.
He now faces a possible three-year ban from Australia, where he was won nine of his 20 Grand Slam titles.
The fall-out from the 34-year-old’s very public stand-off with the Australian government has raised a lot of questions on how it could affect him.
Djokovic made a bit more history at the Australian Open in being the first tennis world number one to be deported.
With the absence of Djokovic could see Rafael Nadal win the 21st Grand Slam singles crown.
Nadal winning the Australian Open would require Djokovic to win two more Grand Slam titles to be the sole holder of the record number of singles titles.
Djokovic has Wimbledon as the only tournament that he would appear in after the French Open doors closed on him.
Djokovic’s chances of playing in the next Grand Slam tournament, the French Open, were thrown into doubt on January 16, as France announced that any athlete who wished to compete in France will have to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
The US Open would also appear to be a no-go area for Djokovic according to the stringent vaccination rules currently in place in New York.