MELBOURNE: Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic said in a statement on Sunday that he was "extremely disappointed" with the decision to cancel his visa to enter Australia, but would respect it and cooperate with the authorities in relation to his departure from the country.
The Serbian champion said he hoped the focus would now return to tennis and the Australian Open Grand Slam, which starts in Melbourne on Monday.
Djokovic had appealed Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's decision to cancel his visa on the grounds that he was a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amid Australia's worst COVID-19 outbreak.
"I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this," the 34-year-old said in a statement after the court dismissed his case.
Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, was granted a medical exemption to compete at the Melbourne Park major, a tournament he has won nine times including the last three editions.
His fate was finally decided after a rollercoaster 10 days that saw him detained by authorities, released and then detained again ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.
Rafa Nadal, who is tied with Djokovic on 20 major titles, said "too many questions" still needed to be answered concerning the Serb's bid to play the tournament, while other leading players lamented how Slam has been overshadowed by the saga.
"I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love," Djokovic said, while also thanking those that supported him.
"I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers and fans all the best for the tournament."
"I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister's decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.
"I respect the Court's ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country."
Reuters
Sun Jan 16 2022
Djokovic said he hoped the focus would now return to tennis and the Australian Open Grand Slam, which starts in Melbourne on Monday. - AP
Banjir kilat melanda beberapa kawasan di Perak
106 mangsa banjir dipindahkan ke lima PPS susulan hujan lebat malam tadi di Perak. Credit: JBPM Perak
Banjir kilat di Kulim dan Bandar Baharu
Seramai 133 mangsa banjir kilat dipindahkan ke dua PPS yang diaktifkan di Kedah. - Credit APM Kedah
Seorang maut, nahas tiga lori di Lebuhraya PLUS, laluan arah selatan terhalang
Ekoran kemalangan itu, sebuah lori melintangi jalan dan semua lorong terhalang, menyebabkan aliran trafik terhenti sepanjang 13 kilometer.
Banjir kilat: 133 mangsa dipindahkan ke dua PPS di Kedah
Semua mangsa yang dipindahkan melibatkan 31 keluarga iaitu di daerah Kulim dan Bandar Baharu dipindahkan sejak jam 4 pagi tadi.
Banjir kilat: 106 mangsa dipindahkan ke lima PPS di Perak
Seramai 106 mangsa dari 33 keluarga telah ditempatkan di lima PPS di tiga daerah iaitu Hilir Perak, Larut Matang Selama dan Kuala Kangsar.
Malaysia, Kazakhstan sepakat perkukuh hubungan, teroka kerjasama baharu
Malaysia dan Kazakhstan sepakat untuk terus memperkukuhkan hubungan yang terjalin sejak 16 Mac 1992, serta meneroka peluang kerjasama baharu.
Tiada terkesan cuaca panas, jemaah dinasihat jaga kesihatan
Walaupun tiada kes jemaah haji Malaysia terkesan kerana cuaca panas ketika ini di Mekah dan Madinah, Ketua Rombangan Haji Malaysia 1445H/2024, Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman meminta jemaah dan petugas Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) supaya terus menjaga kesihatan dan tidak terlalu mendedahkan diri kepada keadaan cuaca panas itu.
MTRK gesa kerajaan Kelantan selesaikan isu air
Kerajaan Kelantan perlu mencari jalan penyelesaian segera bagi menangani masalah air di negeri berkenaan.
Isu kekurangan sumber manusia akan ditangani segera
Sementara itu, Timbalan Pengarah Kesihatan Negeri Kedah (Kesihatan Awam) Dr Norizan Ahmad dalam sebuah kenyataan memaklumkan isu kekurangan sumber manusia akan ditangani sebaik mungkin supaya penyampaian perkhidmatan sedia ada tidak terjejas.
TNB tidak perlu bayar cukai tambahan RM1.8 bilion, Mahkamah Rayuan kekal keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi
Panel setuju, TNB sebagai syarikat utiliti elektrik dikenali dan jumlah yang diminta terdiri daripada RA yang sepatutnya dikecualikan.
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Serena pamer aksi cemerlang, selesa ke pusingan ketiga
Serena Williams berjaya mengetepikan bintang Serbia, Nina Stojanovic pada Terbuka Australia untuk kemenangan 6-3, 6-0 di Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic muncul juara Terbuka Australia 2020
Novak Djokovic muncul juara perseorangan lelaki kejohanan tenis Terbuka Australia 2020 selepas berjaya membenam Dominic Thiem sebentar tadi.
Terbuka Australia: Thiem tempah aksi dengan Djokovic untuk takhta kejuaraan
Austria Dominic Thiem mara ke final Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama selepas tundukkan Alexander Zverev sebentar tadi.
Federer terkandas, Djokovic buru kejuaraan ke-8 Terbuka Australia
Roger Federer gagal melepasi Novak Djokovic untuk mara ke final Terbuka Australia 2020.
Terbuka Australia: Nadal layak ke suku akhir kali ke-10
Rafael Nadal bertarung bagi mendapatkan tempat ke perlawanan suku akhir Terbuka Australia selepas menundukkan Diego Schwartzman, sebentar tadi.
Terbuka Australia: Wozniacki mara ke suku akhir
Caroline Wozniacki melangkah ke suku akhir Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama sejak 2012 selepas melakar kemenangan ke atas Magdalena Rybarikova.
Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi event
The 12-time grand slam winner was scheduled to kickstart the new season against Roberto Bautista Agut but was advised by his medical team to skip the tournament just hours before the match.