On Sunday, Novak Djokovic lost his last-effort bid to remain in Australia and was deported from the country.
The ruling has resulted in the 34-year-old being unable to defend his title as champion in the 2022 Australian Open. This will further prevent the Serbian tennis star from potentially winning a record 21st Grand Slam.
Earlier today, Djokovic's legal team was unable to convince a three-judge panel that the government's decision to cancel the tennis star's visa was "invalid and illogical".
It comes after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his ministerial powers on Friday to revoke Djokovic's visa due to the Serbian star's unvaccinated status. In a statement, Hawke said: "Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so."
But Chief Justice James Allsop said that today's ruling was made on the lawfulness and legality of the minister's decision.
In response to the ruling, people in and out of the world of tennis have shared their thoughts on the decision.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg shared Novak's journey to this moment:
Tennis commentator David Law wrote: "It could have been so simple. 1) Get vaccinated, Novak, like 97 of the other Top 100.
"2) Have a rule that says you get vaccinated or you don’t play (unless your reason is so acute, and so beyond doubt that nobody sensible can dispute it)."
Piers Morgan was clearly happy at the news, branding Djokovic an "immigration form liar, & anti-vaxxer icon".
Health Editor for the Australian Natasha Robinson added: "Imagine bringing this entire s**tshow upon yourself and denying yourself the chance to be the most decorated player in tennis history for the sake of not getting one tiny goddamn jab."
Tennis writer and broadcaster Carole Bouchard was more sympathetic towards Djokovic, writing: "The way Djokovic has been treated since winning the first appeal is an utter disgrace. He is not a threat to Australia. He didn’t come here to excite any unvaxxed movement whatsoever. They perfectly know it."
Bouchard went on to call the ruling an "unreal twisting of the law" and "shameful".
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios - who has been vocal in his support of Djokovic's case - let his feelings be known with one emoji:
And French tennis player Alize Cornet wrote: "I know too little to judge the situation. What I know is that Novak is always the first one to stand for the players. But none of us stood for him. Be strong @DjokerNole".
Djokovic himself has also responded to the decision. In a statement he said: "I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister's decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.
"I respect the Court's ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.
"I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love."
He added: "Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, team, supporters, fans and my fellow Serbians for your continued support,' the player concluded.
"You have all been a great source of strength to me."
As reported by BBC News and the Daily Mail, the 34-year-old tennis star has now left Australia for Dubai after losing his last-effort court bid to remain in the country, with officials canceling Djokovic's visa - for a second time - on "health and good order" grounds.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion was spotted being escorted by Australian Federal Police at Melbourne Airport at 8:30PM local time, after leaving his detention hotel "without detection". Djokovic reportedly boarded an Emirates flight set for Dubai at 10:30PM local time.