After 20 grand slam titles in tennis, Novak Djokovic is a national icon in Serbia.
The country's president Aleksandar Vucic and the Olympic Committee both show their support for the tennis star.
- All of us in Serbia are very disappointed with the court's decision in Australia regarding Novak Djokovic and his participation.
We believe that there was a policy behind the decision.
And something that was even worse was the organized witch hunt that Novak Djokovic was subjected to, Vucic tells AP.
The president describes Australia's treatment of Djokovic as "torture".
- They even tortured Novak Djokovic, because it was both mental and physical torture, he says according to AP.
"Scandalous decision"
Serbia's Olympic Committee also defends Djokovic, who took Olympic bronze in singles in Beijing in 2008.
"We are proud of Novak Djokovic and the way he has handled these extremely difficult and unpleasant circumstances.
Despite this scandalous decision, we believe that Novak came out as a winner again ", the committee writes in a statement.
On Sunday, the day before the Australian Open begins, it was clear that the reigning champion Djokovic will not receive a visa to Australia and be deported because he has not been vaccinated against covid-19 or is considered to have medical reasons for not being vaccinated.
In the evening local time, he boarded a plane to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.