A court decision on Sunday to uphold Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa cancellation was an end to a “deeply regrettable” series of events and the Serb’s exit from the Australian Open was a loss for the sport, men’s tennis governing body ATP has said. The decision ruled the 34-year-old Serb from the current year’s Australian Open, a tournament he has won a record 9 times including the last three editions. “Today’s decision to uphold Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa cancellation marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events,” the ATP said in a statement. The men’s tennis governing body had earlier said that 97% of the men’s best 100 players were vaccinated against COVID-19. “Irrespective of how this point has been reached, Novak is one of our sport’s greatest champions and his absence from the Australian Open is a loss for the game,” the ATP said.

Source: Hindustan Times January 16, 2022 12:49 UTC