BELGRADE, Serbia — Novak Djokovic, undone in his quest for a 10th Australian Open tennis championship by his decision to remain unvaccinated against Covid-19, returned on Monday to the warm embrace of his home nation of Serbia even as his future in the sport was shrouded in uncertainty. He landed in Belgrade a day after being deported from Australia following a decision by the Australian government to revoke his visa out of concern that he might inspire anti-vaccination sentiment. As he slipped out a private exit at Nikola Tesla International Airport in Belgrade to avoid a crowd of waiting reporters, nearly two weeks of legal wrangling, political posturing and intense media focus came to a rather subdued end. The few dozen supporters who made their way to the airport waved flags, chanted their support for Mr. Djokovic and complained that their hero had been mistreated.

Recently, she withdrew from next year’s Australian Open, saying “I am not where I need to be physically to compete.” This is the second major tournament that she will be missing after the US Open, which might fan those retirement rumours but with Serena, we never know. Medvedev had just extinguished Novak Djokovic’s hopes of winning the Calendar Slam, beating him 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to win the US Open crown. Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas was in the eye of the storm with his lengthy bathroom breaks often, pardon the pun, courting controversies during his US Open matches. Against French player Adrian Mannarino in the second round, Tsitsipas again took a toilet break after losing the second set before coming back to win the match in four sets.

Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming said on Monday that tennis star Peng Shuai, who became the subject of concern after she accused a former senior politician of sexually assaulting her, was in good spirits when they appeared at an event last month. We chatted merrily,” Yao said when asked in Beijing on Monday about his impressions of Peng at a cross-country skiing event they both attended last month in Shanghai. At the December event also attended by Yao, Peng told a media outlet she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her, and that her social media post had been misunderstood. Speaking with media less than three weeks before the Olympics are due to open, Yao said he expects China to win medals in speed skating and snowboarding, but asked Chinese fans to be patient given the country is relatively new to winter sports.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Sebastian Korda spent his first week of a long-awaited trip to Australia far from the summer sunshine he imagined: After testing positive for coronavirus upon landing in the country, Korda was quarantined in a hotel room in Adelaide, hitting a ball against the headboard of his bed. Though one unfortunate carom off the ceiling left Korda doubled over in pain, the weeklong confinement would not contain his growing talent: In his first match of the year, Korda comprehensively defeated 12th-seeded Cameron Norrie of Britain, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, in a first-round match at the Australian Open’s new Kia Arena. It was the first main draw match here for Korda, 21, who won the Australian Open boys’ title four years ago. Korda skipped the Open last year, opting to play a small tournament in France, which he won to break into the top 100 for the first time.

The recurring theme is being revisited – of ‘Serbia vs the world’ whenever it comes to tennis and the ‘west’ not ‘loving’ Djokovic as much as they would Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But amidst the unexpected support Djokovic is receiving, let’s not forget he’s been irresponsible when it comes to setting an example as a public figure during the pandemic. He remains adamant against taking the Covid-19 vaccination, despite – if his lawyers are to be believed – him contracting the virus twice, the first time being just after the Adria Tour. Djokovic could use the time in his hotel room, where he is temporarily detained, to introspect about the message he is sending across as a role model by believing in alternative science at all costs.

Australia’s prime minister said Thursday his government’s tough policy toward visitors who were not vaccinated for COVID-19 had not changed, as it nears a decision on whether to deport Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. Hawke has been considering the question of Djokovic’s deportation since a judge reinstated the 34-year-old’s visa on Monday. In his statement, Djokovic described recent commentary as “hurtful” and said he wanted to address it in the interest of “alleviating broader concern in the community about my presence in Australia.” At issue is whether Djokovic has a valid exemption since he recently recovered from COVID-19. Sydney-based immigration lawyer Simon Jeans said if Djokovic’s visa were cancelled, he would likely be held in immigration detention.