Novak Djokovic said Sunday he was “extremely disappointed” by Australia’s decision to deport him but he would comply and leave the country. Hours earlier, three judges at the Federal Court had unanimously dismissed the unvaccinated Serbian superstar’s last-gasp attempt to overturn the government’s cancellation of his visa. “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 […]
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Novak Djokovic’s Australia controversy timeline
World number one Novak Djokovic has languished in a Melbourne detention centre since Thursday morning after having his Australian visa cancelled over his Covid-19 vaccine status. The 34-year-old, who is hoping to defend his Australian Open title and win a record 21st Grand Slam title, faces being deported if he loses a court appeal scheduled for Monday. AFP looks at how the drama, which has reverberated around the world, has unfolded: Tuesday, January 4 — […]
Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cup in Sydney: organisers
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Cup in Sydney, organisers said on Wednesday, heightening doubts about his vaccination status and whether he will defend his Australian Open title. “World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2022 ATP Cup. Team Serbia will now be led by world No.33 Dusan Lajovic,” organisers said in a statement ahead of Saturday’s start to the tournament. There has been intense speculation as to whether […]
Canada’s Shapovalov tests positive for Covid in Sydney
World number 14 Denis Shapovalov has tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Sydney, he said Sunday, highlighting the virus threat to the Australian Open. The 22-year-old was among the first players to enter Australia ahead of the ATP Cup teams event from January 1, where he was supposed to be playing for Canada, and with the first Grand Slam of the year three weeks away. He said on Twitter he was experiencing mild symptoms […]
Queen leads explosion of British joy at Raducanu’s stunning Slam win
Emma Raducanu’s extraordinary US Open triumph on Saturday led to an explosion of joy in Britain, with Queen Elizabeth II leading the celebrations as the 18-year-old qualifier made tennis history in New York. Raducanu beat 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 to become Britain’s first women’s Grand Slam singles champion since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977, and the first player to win a major after coming through a qualifying tournament. “I send my congratulations […]
Djokovic into US Open last 8, three wins from Grand Slam
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Novak Djokovic struggled but advanced within three matches of completing the first men’s singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years on Monday by outlasting American Jenson Brooksby at the US Open. World number one Djokovic rallied past 99th-ranked Brooksby 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to book a quarter-final encounter with Italian sixth seed Matteo Berrettini in a rematch of July’s Wimbledon final. The 34-year-old Serbian star would become the first […]
Hong Kong stocks open with losses
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong started on the back foot Tuesday as investors fretted over geopolitical tensions following the weekend strike on Saudi oil fields that fuelled concerns of a conflict in the Gulf. The Hang Seng Index dropped 0.67 percent, or 181.59 points, to 26,942.96. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.23 percent, or 7.04 points, to 3,023.71 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, was […]
Djokovic: ‘life goes on’ as injury wrecks US Open defense
by Martyn WOOD NEW YORK, United States (AFP ) — Top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic said “life goes on” after a shoulder injury forced him to quit Sunday’s clash with Stan Wawrinka in the last 16 of the US Open. Wawrinka, the 23rd seed and 2016 champion, led Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 when the Serb quit with a nagging left shoulder problem that had troubled him since the start of the tournament. “The pain was […]
Federer in favor of prize money boost in ‘lower ranks’
by Martyn WOOD NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Roger Federer added his voice to growing calls for increased prize money for players “in the lower ranks” after battling into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday. A sizeable number of top men’s players are backing a petition seeking a larger slice of tournament revenues at Grand Slams and other events, with those outside the top 100 struggling to make money or break […]
G20 summit officially opens in Japan’s Osaka
OSAKA, Japan (AFP) — Leaders of the Group of 20 opened a high-stakes summit in Japan’s Osaka Friday that is expected to be one of the most fractious in years. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened the meeting, which will be dominated by contentious discussions on trade, geopolitical tensions and climate change. © Agence France-Presse
Go away! No one likes you: Tomic blasts Davis Cup skipper Hewitt
MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) – Firebrand Bernard Tomic has launched an extraordinary attack on fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt, saying “no one likes him any more” while claiming he has ruined the national tennis system. The combustible 26-year-old unloaded on the Australian Davis Cup captain and two-time Grand Slam champion after being bundled out of Melbourne Park at the first hurdle late Monday. He alleged there were deep divisions in the Australian men’s game. “It’s all Lleyton. […]
Murray’s agony: ‘It’s so sore I even hate walking the dogs’
by Daniel HICKS Agence France Presse MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Andy Murray has opened up about the personal agony of his battered right hip after losing an epic Australian Open five-setter, saying he can’t even enjoy simple pleasures like walking his dogs. The Scot fought to the bitter end in what could prove his final match before losing a four-hour thriller to 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday night. He now faces a heart-wrenching […]





