Australian authorities scrambled on Sunday to file a legal defence of their decision to bar entry to tennis world number one Novak Djokovic over his COVID-19 vaccination status, as the Serbian superstar spent his fourth day in immigration detention.
Novak Djokovic, the world number one ranked men's player, has reiterated his stand about freedom of choice over taking the COVID-19 vaccine as suspense grows over his participation at the Australian Open in January.
Novak Djokovic's father Srdjan said on Friday he would not attend his son's Australian Open semi-final and would instead "watch from home".
Next up for the 35-year-old will be another American in 39th-ranked Tommy Paul with a potential semi-final clash against top-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, who he defeated in the Australian Open final from a two-sets deficit.
Novak Djokovic kept his unbeaten streak in 2020 alive as he survived a terrible start to defeat Milos Raonic 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday.
Indian Wells organisers said on Tuesday that world number two Novak Djokovic had been placed in the tournament's draw but it was unclear if the Serbian would be permitted to enter the United States.
Djokovic's family said his release was the 'biggest victory of his life'.
Novak Djokovic won a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title by avenging his U.S Open final defeat against Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in Sunday's showpiece match.
Nine-times champion Novak Djokovic says there are "positive signs" that his three-year ban on entering Australia will be waived so he can play at the next Australian Open in January.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has applied for special permission to enter the United States to participate in the ATP Masters 1000 events.
World number one Novak Djokovic shook off an eye infection to beat Kazakhstan's Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-1 6-2 6-3 in front of a passionate home crowd to give Serbia a 1-0 lead against Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup first-round tie on Friday. Djokovic, who was forced to retire with the problem from last week's Dubai Championships quarter-final against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, showed no sign of problems as he brushed aside his opponent in the acoustic Pionir Arena. The 28-year-old from Belgrade delighted the home fans, who enjoyed a rare opportunity to watch him live because there are no major tour events in Serbia, with a barrage of sizzling winners, including some spectacular net points.
Novak Djokovic could be barred from playing in the French Open as things stand now after the Sports Ministry said on Monday there would be no exemption from France's new vaccine pass law.
Sabalenka overpowers Raducanu, Osaka falls
Novak Djokovic said his victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's Australian Open final was the "biggest victory" of his career, as he claimed his 22nd Grand Slam title and won back the hearts of the home fans a year after being deported from the country.
Former world number one Djokovic saved four match points but cracked under his opponent's tremendous pressure on the fifth as Goffin set up a last-four meeting with either clay court king Rafael Nadal or Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Djokovic said it had been a friendly conversation.
'He has left a huge legacy that will live for a very long time'
The elbow injury sidelined him for six months after he was forced to retire at the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year. He underwent a surgery for the same in February.
Chasing his 23rd Grand Slam, a frustrated Novak Djokovic was seen complaining to the umpire.
The Serbian's 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 defeat also ended his dream of winning an Olympic singles gold medal, the only major honour missing from his long list of accolades.
Djokovic welcome to play if he can obtain visa, says Australian Open director
The Serbian champion said he hoped the focus would now return to tennis
Carlos Alcaraz secured his passage into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over Nuno Borges.
Novak Djokovic moved ahead for the first time in his long-running rivalry with Rafael Nadal when the World No 1 thrashed the Spaniard to win the Qatar Open in Doha on Saturday.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic won a record-extending 6th Australian Open title after defeating Briton Andy Murray in straight sets at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic enjoyed a winning French Open start under new coach Andre Agassi on Monday, cruising past Spain's Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.
The Australian Open men's singles final offers a rematch of the dramatic 2021 French Open final, in which Djokovic came back from two sets down to snatch the title and leave Greek Tsitsipas heartbroken.
Thiem, the fourth seed, was leading 3-1 in the third set on Friday when the semi-final was interrupted by rain and then surprisingly abandoned for the day.
Djokovic also had to contend with hecklers during his second-round win, with one fan attracting his ire in the fourth set after repeatedly making noise while he was preparing to serve.
Djokovic has won the last three editions of Wimbledon in 2018, 2019 and last year
Djokovic has refused to take the vaccine and appears set to miss out on the year's last Grand Slam
Djokovic announced on Tuesday he received an exemption to play in the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne and said he was heading to Australia.
Women's top seed Russian Maria Sharapova will play France's Camille Pin in her first round match at the Australian Open.
For the first time since 2004, neither Novak Djokovic nor the injured Rafael Nadal will be in the Rome final.
There were no jeers this time as Swiss Stan Wawrinka defied the odds to win the French Open with a courageous 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in an enthralling final on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic has offered financial support and any other help required to Ukrainian former world number 31 Sergiy Stakhovsky, who has enlisted in his country's reserve army amid Russia's invasion of its neighbour.
World No 1 Rafa Nadal fell to Cyprus's Marco Baghdatis 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters Friday as three of the top four seeds lost out.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic swept aside opponent David Ferrer of Spain in straight sets to set up China Open summit clash against third-seed Rafael Nadal.
World number one Novak Djokovic once again declined to reveal whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and said he is unsure if he would defend his title at next year's Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer for a second year running to retain his Wimbledon title.
