Ruqayyah Snyder
In January 2022, Novak Djokovic's entry into Australia caused controversy. The tennis star, who has previously refused to declare his vaccination status, had his visa rejected by the Australian government. This was due to discrepancies in his visa application, which stated that he had a medical exemption from vaccination. After landing in Melbourne, Djokovic was held by border officials and questioned for several hours. While it is unclear whether Djokovic flew to Australia in his private jet, he eventually returned to Serbia on a commercial Emirates flight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for travel | To participate in the Australian Open |
| Date of travel | Early hours of Thursday morning, 2022 |
| Airline | Emirates |
| Flight path | Dubai to Melbourne |
| Flight duration | 14 hours |
| Private jet | Yes, owned by Djokovic |
| Private jet brand | NetJets |
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What You'll Learn
Djokovic's deportation from Australia
Novak Djokovic's deportation from Australia in 2022 was a highly publicised event. The Serbian tennis player, who has won 10 of his 24 Grand Slam championships at Melbourne Park, had his visa rejected and was sent back to Serbia. This was due to his vaccination status—or lack thereof—in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic had initially been granted a vaccine exemption and obtained a visa to enter Australia and compete in the 2022 Australian Open. However, this decision was met with outrage and his visa was soon revoked. The tennis star was detained by Australian Border Force (ABF) officials and told he must leave the country. While Djokovic considered fighting the deportation, he ultimately did not, and he faced a possible three-year ban from Australia.
Despite the ordeal, Djokovic expressed no resentment toward Australia. In an interview with the Herald Sun, he stated, "I don’t hold any resentment, to be honest. I don’t hold a grudge." In 2023, with a change in government and pandemic border rule changes, a new immigration minister granted Djokovic a visa, allowing him to compete and win the Australian Open that year.
In 2025, Djokovic returned to Australia once again to compete in the Brisbane International and the Australian Open, this time with former rival Andy Murray as his coach. In an interview with the Herald Sun, Djokovic admitted to feeling apprehensive and experiencing "a bit of trauma" when going through passport control and immigration in Australia, fearing potential detention.
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Djokovic's private jet
Novak Djokovic owns a private jet, which he uses to fly about 200 hours per year. The jet is a product of NetJets, a brand also used by fellow tennis player Roger Federer. Djokovic has been flying with NetJets since 2015, as the game requires non-stop travel. The amenities in his private jet are personalized.
In 2022, Djokovic travelled to Melbourne, Australia, on a commercial Emirates flight. This journey was met with controversy as his visa application was rejected by the Australian government due to discrepancies and a lack of "appropriate standards of proof." As a result, he was held at the airport by border officials and faced deportation.
While it is unclear if Djokovic used his private jet for the aforementioned trip to Australia, it is likely that he would have considered it for his return journey to Serbia and any subsequent trip back to Australia. Such a round trip would total about 28,000 kilometres and 48 hours of flight time.
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The 28,000km plane journey to Serbia and back
Djokovic was held by Australian Border Force (ABF) officials and questioned for several hours at Melbourne Airport. He was then told he would not be allowed to enter the country and that he must leave. Arrangements were made to deport him from Australia, with the tennis star facing a 48-hour flight back to Serbia.
The Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, accused Australian officials of harassment and demanded that they immediately release Djokovic to play. He also claimed that Serbia would fight for Djokovic and that the tennis player had the support of the whole country.
It is not known exactly how Djokovic made the journey back to Serbia, but as one of the world's top tennis players, he likely has access to private jets. It has been reported that he owns a private jet from the brand NetJets, which he has been flying with since 2015. He has also been known to fly in a Learjet and has a brand ambassadorship with Bombardier, which allows him to fly in a variety of their business jets.
The 28,000km round trip would have been a difficult journey for Djokovic, especially as there was no guarantee that he would be allowed back into Australia to compete in the Australian Open. This journey would have been a test of endurance, with at least 48 hours spent in the air, and the potential for further questioning and delays upon his return to Australia.
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Emirates' responsibility in the fiasco
Emirates' responsibility in the Novak Djokovic fiasco has been a subject of much discussion. The airline found itself in the spotlight when the tennis star was denied entry into Australia ahead of the Australian Open due to issues with his visa and vaccination exemption.
Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on an Emirates flight, and questions were raised about the airline's role in allowing him to board without a vaccination certificate. Emirates, however, defended itself by stating that it had checked the approved exemption certificate as a valid document for boarding, as per standard procedure. The airline's responsibility typically ends with ensuring that a passenger's entry paperwork is in order, and the onus then shifts to the border authorities to make the final call on granting entry or not.
In this case, the Australian Border Force (ABF) officials detained Djokovic, citing that he did not meet the entry requirements. While Emirates followed standard protocol, some argued that the airline should have been more vigilant, especially given the high-profile nature of the case and the ambiguity surrounding Djokovic's vaccination status. The incident underscores the complex nature of international travel during the pandemic, where airlines are tasked with interpreting and enforcing evolving health and immigration protocols.
Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring compliance with a country's entry requirements falls on multiple stakeholders, including the traveller, the airline, and the border authorities. While Emirates' role in the fiasco was questioned, the consensus is that the airline followed standard procedures and is not liable for the subsequent deportation. The incident highlights the importance of clear and consistent communication between airlines, travellers, and government authorities to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
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The Australian Open controversy
Upon his arrival in Melbourne, Djokovic was detained by the Australian Border Force (ABF) officials and held for several hours at the airport. The issue at hand was with his visa application, which did not meet the entry requirements for Australia. Specifically, the Victorian government stated that they would not support his visa application, as it did not allow for medical exemptions, and it was left to the federal government to make a decision. This created a diplomatic tension between Australia and Serbia, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accusing Australian officials of "harassment" and demanding Djokovic's immediate release.
During this time, Djokovic was guarded by police and accompanied by his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and other members of his entourage. The situation escalated quickly, with media and supporters gathering at the airport, and Djokovic's father, Srdjan, making public statements and even threatening protests if his son was not released. The controversy also caused internal political debates, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison facing backlash for initially granting the medical exemption and then having to ensure no special rules" for Djokovic.
Facing deportation, Djokovic considered his legal options, and the Australian government was careful to afford him every legal right. It was suggested that he could still compete in the Australian Open if he returned to Serbia, rectified his visa, and then made the 28,000 km journey back to Australia. However, there were no guarantees that he would be allowed entry even with the corrected visa, given his unvaccinated status. Ultimately, Djokovic's visa was rejected, and he was forced to leave Australia, missing the opportunity to defend his Australian Open title and achieve a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam win.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear whether Djokovic flew private to Australia. However, it is known that he flew with Emirates.
Djokovic's entry into Australia was controversial because he had been granted a vaccine exemption, which caused outrage among Australians. Local rules required all travellers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter the state of Victoria.
No, Djokovic did not have the correct visa to enter Australia. He had applied for a visa that did not allow for medical exemptions.
After landing, Djokovic was held and questioned by Border Force agents for several hours at Melbourne Airport. Arrangements to deport him from Australia were then made, and he was told he would have to leave the country.
