'God bless you Novak': Serbia welcomes back Djokovic after Australian visa row

17 January 2022, 14:19 | Updated: 17 January 2022, 14:27

Djokovic a been welcomed back in Serbia after Australia visa row
Djokovic a been welcomed back in Serbia after Australia visa row. Picture: Alamy

By Megan Hinton

Serbia has welcomed back tennis star Novak Djokovic after he was deported from Australia, following a visa row over his vaccination status.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The tennis star was prevented from defending his Australian Open tennis title after is was argued that he had been held up as a hero by the anti-vaccine movement.

A plane carrying the number one ranked player touched down in the capital Belgrade on Monday, to only a handful of fans waving the Serbian flag, despite many predicting a hero's welcome.

"God bless you Novak" read one of the banners held by the fans at the airport as he was whisked through passport control and customs and then driven by his brother Djordje to his apartment in Belgrade.

There is uncertainty over what will come next for the player ahead of the French Open, which is the next Grand Slam, in late May.

French official have said a new law requiring vaccination to enter sports venues, restaurants and other public places, would have no exceptions.

Novak Djokovic has given anti-vaxxers 'a lot of fuel'

Read more: Brit tsunami victim died on Tongan beach trying to save her dogs, brother reveals

Read more: Sir Keir fights back over Partygate: Tories are trying to drag us ‘into the gutter’

Mr Djokovic had argued that he was exempt from strict Australian vaccination rules because he had recently recovered from Covid-19.

But once he arrived in the country, Australian authorities said that exemption was not valid.

They eventually cited the public interest and revoked his visa, saying his presence could stir up anti-vaccine sentiment and that kicking him out was necessary to keep Australians safe.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the Australian government of "harassing" the top-ranked tennis star and urged him to return home.

The legal battle over whether Djokovic held a valid exemption to vaccine rules that would allow him to play in the Australian Open ended on Sunday with his deportation.

Andrew Castle hits out at Djokovic decision

Read more: Britain to be hit by freezing fog and two days of travel chaos, Met Office warns

Read more: Two teens held in Manchester after Brit hostage taker killed by FBI in Texas synagogue

Vaccination amid the pandemic is a requirement for anyone at the Australian Open, which started on Monday in Melbourne.

Djokovic has almost an iconic status in Serbia, whose president had called the court hearing in Australia "a farce with a lot of lies".

"Novak, welcome home, you know that we all support you here," said Snezana Jankovic, a Belgrade resident.

"They can take away your visa, but they cannot take away your Serbian pride."

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

There have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed near aid sites since the GHF began operations

Dozens of Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire near aid sites in Gaza

At least 27 have died after a boat capsized in Vietnam.

At least 34 dead and scores missing after Vietnam tourist boat capsizes

Poland, Warsaw Chopin airport

Poland investigating 'potential sabotage' after technical fault with air traffic control system

Around 30 people have been injured after a vehicle ploughed into a crown in Los Angeles

Los Angeles nightclub crash which left 30 injured may have been intentional, police say

Patrick Howlett, 58

Man who sent £56,000 to Philippines for livestreamed sexual abuse of children jailed for 30 years

The explosion happened at Biscailuz Center Academy Training.

At least three people killed in 'horrific incident' at Los Angeles sheriff training facility

Russian President Vladimir Putin

UK sanctions Russian spies at heart of Putin's regime over ‘campaign to destabilise Europe’

x

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner ‘died in mid air’ before crashing into hotel worker in front of horrified witnesses

Shortly before his death, the sporting sensation posted a video to social media showing himself paragliding in circles over a field.

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Russia could launch 'preventative strikes' on the West if 'necessary', Putin ally warns

Wounded Palestinians, including Father Jebrail Romanelli, are brought to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital after an Israeli attack targeted the Holy Family Church in eastern Gaza City.

Two worshippers dead after Israeli tank fire hits church in Gaza as Pope Leo calls for immediate ceasefire

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal is thought to have been suffering from mental health problems

Air India captain 'cut off' fuel before fatal crash, US officials say

Wilawan Emsawat has been arrested for allegedly having sex with monks and blackmailing them

Thai woman filmed herself having sex with Buddhist monks and blackmailed them

A few houses sit on a grassy area with mountain ranges in the background

Tsunami warning issued following 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Alaska

Shocking footage showed the stage at the iconic European dance festival in Boom, Belgium, engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon

Tomorrowland main stage destroyed by fire hours before festival start

As the news reporter is presenting - a huge explosion is captured erupting in the background.

Moment Israeli airstrike blasts Syria military HQ on live TV as news reporter flees in terror