Serb DEPORTED as he flies to Spain, Nadal slammed by Kyrgios, updated Australian Open draw news

Simply the best

Twitter users blasted Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic for praising fellow countryman Djokovic.

Following Djokovic’s removal from Australia, Milivojevic aimed a dig towards the media for pushing a false narrative about Djokovic alongside a post listing the world no.1’s achievements.

The Palace star also wrote ‘simply the best’ above his post to the dismay of several Twitter users who told him he should be more responsible.

‘Like NATO bombings”

Djokovic’s fellow Serbian and ex-tennis star Bojana Jovanovski has compared the world No.1’s treatment to the NATO bombing spree their country had to endure when both stars were kids.

She wrote n a passion-filled open letter following Djokovic’s removal from Down Under: “We have experienced various kinds of injustice, at least through our childhood.

“Bombs were thrown by world powers at civilian facilities in our city and our youngest fellow citizens and friends were killed.

“Now the world’s powerful are putting pressure on you to give up, because in other [ways] – in a fair and sporty way – no one can defeat you.

“Success is something they obviously don’t want to forgive you for.”

‘It was a fair decision’

Mats Wilander thinks it’s fair that Djokovic was deported from Australia considering all the deaths that have occurred globally due to Covid.

He told Eurosport: “Do I think it’s fair? Well I think it’s fair – millions of people have died from Covid around the world.

“Australia has decided to go into full lockdown for most of the time, Australians have been suffering both mentally and physically of course like everybody else, so I think in the end Novak tried everything he could and I think it was very difficult to go back on what they said at first.”

‘He’ll never be the same’

Tennis coach Radmilo Armenulic fears Djokovic never be the same mentally after his battle with the Australian government.

Armenulic isn’t optimistic that the world No.1 will perform well at future events as he deals with the psychological scars left from the vaccine saga.

He said: “Novak is extremely ill-treated, so much so that it will affect his mental and physical condition.

“Especially the next tournaments are in danger. I’m not very optimistic.”

No more mess

Andy Murray wants no repeat of the Djokovic spectacle in tennis ever again.

The Brit said: “It feels everything here happened extremely last minute and that’s why it became such a mess.

“Hopefully that won’t be the case at other events so there is no other situation like this.

“I wouldn’t want that for Novak, don’t want that for tennis and hopefully it is done now.”

Djokovic’s family disappointment

Djokovic’s family have expressed their disappointment after the world No.1 was deported from Down Under.

A family statement read: “We are very disappointed by a federal court ruling and the fact that Novak has to leave Australia.

“These are difficult moments, notably for Novak, but what we all have to do -namely us, his family – is to give him support more than ever.”

‘A dangerous liar’

Actress Mia Farrow has slammed Djokovic for intentionally exposing people to Covid.

She also branded the Serb a ‘dangerous liar’ along with the other ‘entitled and selfish’ people who haven’t taken the vaccine.

Australian Open odds

Following Djokovic’s deportation from Australia, Danill Medvedev has took the Serb’s spot as the favourite to win the Australian Open.

Betfair have placed Medvedev 7/5 favourite to win the competition.

And Betfair have also got Alexander Zverev at 11/4 and Rafael Nadal at 13/2 as the other contenders to win a Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

Sad day in tennis

Tennis ace Sergiy Stakhovsky has called today a very sad day in the sport following Djokovic’s deportation from Australia.

He also claimed politics beat common sense as Djokovic was targeted for his beliefs.

‘Where’s sports’ major figures?’

Welsh comedian Abi Roberts has called out sport’s major figures for not publicly showing support to Djokovic.

She also labelled Australia’s government as ‘fascists’

Lineker makes Djokovic dig

Gary Lineker couldn’t resist taking a cheeky dig at Djokovic after he was deported from Australia.

Lineker wrote on Twitter. “Game, set and despatch.”

Caruso speaks on replacing Djokovic

Djokovic’s ‘lucky loser’ replacement for the Australian Open Salvatore Caruso has spoken out about taking the world No.1’s spot.

The Italian revealed his pride at being given the opportunity to play in the competition.

And he also expressed his hopes that Djokovic will return to the sport soon.

Political games

Vasek Pospisil who founded the Professional Tennis Players’ Association with Djokovic has claimed the Serb was kicked out of Australia for political reasons.

The Australian elections are coming up and Posposil reckons Djokovic was used to win votes.

The Canadian said: “There was a political agenda at play here with the elections coming up which couldn’t be more obvious.

“This is not his fault. He did not force his way into the country and did not ‘make his own rules’; he was ready to stay home.”

Hawke releases statement

Alex Hawke has released a statement confirming that Djokovic has left Australia.

The Immigration Minister also reiterated his stance that he removed Djokovic in the public’s best interest.

‘Greatest shame in sporting history’

Several media outlets have labelled Djokovic’s deportation as the greatest shame in sport’s history.

According to sueddeutsche, one publication said: “”The court has decided: Deportation for Novak!

The greatest shame in the history of sport happened in Melbourne! Shame on you, Australia! The law has lost, politics has triumphed.”

While another fumed: “A shame like you’ve never seen before! Djokovic will be deported, he will not play at the Australian Open.”

And a third raged: “Shaken like never before! Disappointed ‘Nole’ spoke up in court after defeat. He makes no secret of his grief.”

‘They tried to kill him’

Djokovic’s father Srdjan has likened his son’s treatment by the Australian government to an ‘assassination attempt’.

He also claimed that the attempt to ‘murder’ Novak has come to an end with a volley of ‘bullets’ in the world No.1’s chest.

But Srdjan suggested that fans can expect to see his son at the French Open this summer.

He ranted: “The attempt to assassinate the best athlete in the world has ended. 50 bullets in Novak’s chest. See you in Paris.”

Google explodes

Djokovic’s deportation reportedly caused Google searches for ‘cancel Australian visa’ to sky-rocket by 1,145% globally.

According to www.immigrationlawyers-london.com, the whopping figure is 11 times higher than the average voulume in the week during the rulings.

And this showed an unprecedented spike in the amount of people Googling the term.

Djokovic flight ‘most tracked’

Djokovic’s finally set off from Australia and is headed to Dubai for a stop.

And it’s been revealed by Flight 24 that his flight number EK409 became the most tracked flight on their site just ONE MINUTE after turning on the transponder.

‘I felt like a criminal’

Czech doubles player Renata Voracova claims she was made to feel like a criminal after being deported from Australia just like Djokovic for the same reason.

Voracova was initially allowed to enter Australia on a medical exemption granted after she had an adverse reaction to a Covid infection and even played in a tournament in Melbourne.

However, just like they did with Djokovic, the Aussie government had a change of heart and decided to boot Voracova out on Saturday.

And she said about her experience to BBC Russia: “I felt a little bit like a criminal, but there was no reason why I should feel like that.

“I sent all the documents. They were approved. If I knew there would be even a 1% chance of something not being right, I wouldn’t go.”

Djokovic’s replacement for Open

Djokovic’s last-minute replacement for the Australian Open will be Italian Salvatore Caruso.

The world No.1’s omission from the tournament has opened the door for a ‘lucky loser’ from the qualifying stages to take his place, the Nigerian Guardian report.

And the opportunity’s fallen to 29-year-old Caruso whose ranked 150 in the world.

However, unlike Djokovic, Caruso won’t get to play on the main show court.

Djokovic pictured leaving Australia

Djokovic’s been pictured leaving Australia following his deportation from the country.

The Serbian tennis ace is said to stopping off in Dubai next, before heading to Europe.

Wilander’s shock

Mats Wilander is shocked and suprised – but also exhausted by the decision to kick Djokovic out of Australia.

He said: “I’m surprised and I’m shocked. I’m a little bit exhausted as well because we have been hearing about this for a week.

“I give Novak a lot of credit for trying but at the same time he knew there might be the possibility that with the rules you have to be vaccinated.

“But you also have to think about the other players – they have been asked about this for the whole time they have in Australia.

“But the big thing for me, the best tennis players in the world, they are globally famous people and this has really been one of the biggest story this year so far. It is sad news, but we will have a new winner.”

Murray reacts

Andy Murray doesn’t think Djokovic’s absence from the Australian Open will do the tournament any favours because he feels all top players should be involved.

The Brit also isn’t happy that Djokovic was held in an immigration centre whilst awaiting the verdict of his case.

Murray told BBC Sport: “It is not great for the tournament because it is better when all of the top players are playing in the event.

“Novak is someone I have known since we were 12 years old, he is someone who I respect and have competed against. I don’t like he is in this situation and I don’t like he has been in detention.

“The situation has not been good all round for anyone. It feels everything here happened extremely last minute and that’s why it became such a mess.”

Good publicity

Tennis ace Cameron Norrie reckons Djokovic’s Covid spat with Australia is good publicity for the tournament.

However, he would’ve liked to see the world No.1 take part in the Open.

Norrie said on the Tennis Talk podcast: “It’s obviously good publicity for the tournament.

“[The news] has been followed by everyone here and around the world.

“It is not up to me but I would like to see Novak Djokovic play. I want the best players in the world to be playing in the draw.

I also wouldn’t mind seeing the reception he receives if he does play.”

‘No plans to speak’

Djokovic will remain quiet on the subject of his deportation from Australia until after the Open has finished, it’s been reported.

The 34-year-old expressed his frustration at the decision to boot him out of Oz, but he won’t take any more spotlight from the upcoming tournament, according to journalist Sasa Ozmo.