Tennis-Djokovic's absence from Australian Open loss for game - ATP

FILE PHOTO: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park before his visa was again cancelled by the Australian government in Melbourne, Australia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - 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.

Australia was set to deport world number one tennis player Djokovic after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa on the grounds that his decision not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 posed a risk to the country.