Novak Djokovic arrived in Dubai early on Monday after being deported from Australia due to his required COVID-19 vaccination, ending the No.1-ranked males’s tennis participant’s hopes of defending his Australian Open title.
The Emirates aircraft carrying Djokovic took off after a 13 1/2-hour flight from Melbourne, the place he argued in court docket that he needs to be allowed to remain within the nation and was granted medical exemption as a result of coronavirus an infection final month. Must take part within the event underneath ,
At Dubai International Airport, arriving passengers sporting necessary face masks collected their luggage and left the cavernous terminal. More than an hour after Djokovic’s aircraft arrived, he did not come out of luggage declare as a result of a number of passengers on his aircraft had already picked up their luggage on the carousel.
It was not instantly clear whether or not Djokovic deliberate to journey additional. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Tournament, which Djokovic received in 2020, doesn’t begin till February 14.
Dubai, the business capital of the United Arab Emirates, doesn’t require passengers to be vaccinated, though they need to present a adverse PCR take a look at to board a flight.
Djokovic had received 9 Australian Open titles, together with three in a row, and a complete of 20 Grand Slam singles trophies, tied with most rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal within the historical past of males’s tennis. Federer will not be enjoying with an harm and Nadal is the lone former Australian Open males’s champion within the event that started on Monday.
Djokovic’s visa was initially revoked on 6 January by a border official, who determined he didn’t qualify for a medical exemption from Australia’s guidelines for unvaccinated guests. He was exempted from the event’s vaccine guidelines as a result of he had been contaminated with the virus inside the earlier six months.
He received an enchantment to stay for the event, however Australia’s immigration minister later revoked his visa. Three federal court docket judges on Sunday unanimously determined to uphold the immigration minister’s authority to revoke Djokovic’s visa.
Vaccinations amid the pandemic have been a necessity for anybody attending the Australian Open, whether or not the gamers, their coaches or anybody on the event venue. More than 95% of all the highest 100 women and men of their respective rankings of visits are vaccinated. At least two males – American tennis Sandgren and Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert – pulled out of the primary main event of the 12 months as a result of want for vaccines.
Djokovic’s try and receive medical exemptions for vaccinations sparked anger in Australia, the place strict lockdowns in cities and restrictions on worldwide journey have been employed to attempt to management the unfold of the coronavirus because the pandemic started .
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
