Australian Open

Novak Djokovic flies out of Australia after court throws out visa challenge

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced on social media that the world's number one men's tennis player had left the country.

His flight out of Melbourne ended a dramatic 11 days in which the Serbian had his visa to Australia revoked twice.

The second time came when Hawke used his powers as Immigration Minister to cancel Djokovic's visa, after lawyers for the world number one overturned the original decision by Australian Border force.

A judicial review of Hawke's decision to cancel the Serbian's visa was heard by the full bench of the Federal Court on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic focused on Australian Open after winning court ruling

The 34-year-old Serb said he practised on court in Melbourne within hours of leaving an immigration detention hotel.

But Australia's immigration minister still has powers to re-cancel the visa and deport the unvaccinated player.

"Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete in the Australian Open," Djokovic tweeted.

The statement continued: "I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans."

Novak Djokovic court hearing underway for right to play in the Australian Open

The hearing was to begin at 10am in Melbourne (noon NZ time) in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

The Age newspaper reported a small, “jovial’’ crowd of around 50 Djokovic supporters gathered outside the court on Monday morning in support of the Serbian star.

The 34-year-old's lawyers will argue that he met the criteria for a temporary exemption under Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) guidelines and that he was denied procedural fairness during the decision to revoke his visa.

Djokovic to stay in Australia until at least Monday

The Serbian is now holed up in a hotel room, near Melbourne Park, after having his visa cancelled when he arrived in Australia late on Wednesday.

At a hearing yesterday, representatives for the Serbian champion and for the Minister for Immigration reached agreement that no move would be made to deport the 20-time major winner before Monday's hearing in a Federal court.

The hearing will be a week before the start of the 2022 Australian Open, a tournament in which Djokovic was pressing for a 10th title in Melbourne and a record for men of 21 Grand Slam titles.

Osaka shows some rust in first match back

Osaka, who last played competitively when she lost to Leylah Fernandez in the third round of the U.S. Open in September, displayed plenty of her trademark power but often lacked accuracy at the Australian Open warm-up event.

The Japanese player struggled with her first serve while committing 57 unforced errors, including eight double faults, as she eventually saw off the former world number 11.

Novak Djokovic will compete at Australian Open with medical exemption

Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open winner, has not spoken publicly about his vaccination status.

The tournament begins in Melbourne on 17 January.

"I've spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I'm heading down under with an exemption permission," the 34-year-old said on Instagram on Tuesday. "Let's go 2022.

"I am ready to live and breathe tennis in the next few weeks of competition."

Djokovic equals Fed record

Djokovic's ninth Australian Open title last month guaranteed that he would surpass Federer's record next week.

Having reached another milestone in his illustrious career, Djokovic had said he would look to adjust his calendar and make overhauling Federer and Rafa Nadal's joint-record of 20 Grand Slam titles his top priority.

This is Djokovic's fifth stint atop the world rankings. The 33-year-old reclaimed the top spot from Nadal in February last year and finished as the year-end number one for the sixth time - tying the record set by American great Pete Sampras.

Australian Open fans criticised for 'booing vaccine'

The booing happened during an awards ceremony after the men's final, when a tennis official referred to global vaccine efforts as a sign of optimism.

It comes just as Australia begins its national inoculation programme.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack called the crowd's behaviour "disgusting".

"I don't like booing at any event, and certainly any sporting event," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

"This vaccine is going to get our country back to some sort of pre-Covid normality," he said.

Novak Djokovic wins ninth Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev

Top seed Djokovic won 7-5 6-2 6-2 to claim his 18th Grand Slam, leaving him two behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the men's record books.

The 33-year-old Serb has never lost a final at Melbourne Park and beating Medvedev is a third triumph in a row.

Russian fourth seed Medvedev, 25, has lost both of his Grand Slam finals.

After collecting the trophy, Djokovic told the Rod Laver Arena: "I love you each year more and more. The love affair keeps going."

Osaka lifts Australian Open trophy

Osaka's one-sided win over the 22nd-seeded American in the final at Rod Laver Arena gave the Japanese juggernaut her fourth major crown, with her career still budding at the age of 23.

She joined Monica Seles and Roger Federer as winners in their first four Grand Slam finals, marking her out as the ultimate big match performer.

"My reaction is that that's very amazing company," Osaka said, sitting next to the winner's Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.