Novak Djokovic Loses Appeal, Leaves Australia [VIDEO]

ESPN reports:

Novak Djokovic’s final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19 ended Sunday when a court unanimously dismissed the No. 1-ranked tennis player’s challenge of a government minister’s decision to cancel his visa.

Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” by the ruling but respected it. He released a statement shortly after three Federal Court judges unanimously upheld a decision made Friday by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to cancel the 34-year-old’s visa on public interest grounds because he is not vaccinated.

A masked Djokovic was photographed in a Melbourne airport lounge with two government officials in black uniforms. He left at approximately 11 p.m. local time on an Emirates flight to Dubai, the same United Arab Emirates city he flew to Australia from.

Read the full article.

?UPDATE: Novak Djokovic has left Australia after losing a last ditch appeal to remain in the country and being branded a threat to public healthhttps://t.co/aXER6jiy5M

— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) January 16, 2022

Novak Djokovic has been pictured at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport before boarding his flight out of Australia.

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 16, 2022

Game, set, match. Novak Djokovic at the airport leaving Australia. pic.twitter.com/N5aYMlHYOd

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) January 16, 2022

Novak Djokovic filmed at Melbourne Airport after losing his judicial review against the cancellation of his Australian visa. The tennis star has left the country on a flight to Dubai | https://t.co/hVG3N5WWJy pic.twitter.com/h1qkBepHkx

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 16, 2022