‘Disappointed’ Djokovic says he will leave Australia

“I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” the 34-year-old world number one said in a statement on the eve of the Australian Open.

In an 11-day battle over his lack of a Covid-19 vaccine that captured global attention, the tennis ace had his visa canceled at Melbourne airport, reinstated on a procedural issue and then canceled again by the government.

He spent his first few nights in Australia at a notorious Melbourne detention center, walked free to practice on the Australian Open’s courts for several days after he won back his visa, and then was returned into detention.

“I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this,” Djokovic said.

The defending Australian Open champion flew into Melbourne on January 5 hoping to win the title for a 10th time, in the process becoming the first men’s player in the history of the game to grab 21 Grand Slam titles.

“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,” said Djokovic, who had been scheduled to play Monday evening as the first seed.

“I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers and fans all the best for the tournament,” he said.

“Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, team, supporters, fans and my fellow Serbians for your continued support. You have all been a great source of strength to me.”