Novak Djokovic arrived in Dubai early Monday morning following his expulsion from Australia for failing to get the required Covid-19 vaccine. 1) Men’s number one tennis player hopes to defend his Australian Open title.

After a flight of 13 1/2 hours from Melbourne, Djokovic was on board the Emirates aircraft. He had previously argued that he should have been allowed to remain in Australia and participate in the tournament as a medical exemption because of a coronavirus-related infection.

Dubai International Airport passengers arriving wearing mandatory face masks collected bags from baggage claim and left the underground terminal. Djokovic did not arrive at baggage claim for over an hour, as other passengers on Djokovic’s plane had taken their bags to the carousel.

Djokovic’s next destination was not immediately known. Djokovic won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Tournament in 2020. It doesn’t begin until February 14.

Dubai, which is also the United Arab Emirates’ commercial capital, does not require traveler to have a vaccine. However, they will need to show negative results on a PCR test before being allowed to board any flight.

Djokovic had won nine Australian Open titles, including three in a row, and a total of 20 Grand Slam singles trophies, tied with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most in the history of men’s tennis. Federer is not playing while recovering from injury, and Nadal is the only former Australian Open men’s champion in the tournament that began Monday.

Djokovic’s visa was initially canceled on Jan. 6 by a border official who decided he didn’t qualify for a medical exemption from Australia’s rules for unvaccinated visitors. Because he was infected within six months, he was not eligible for the tournament vaccine rules.

Although he won an appeal to remain for the tournament’s final, Australia’s immigration minister later cancelled his visa. Three Federal Court Judges unanimously upheld Sunday the decision of Djokovic’s immigration minister to cancel his visa.

Everyone at the Australian Open was required to get vaccinated in the wake of the pandemic. More than 95% of the Top 100 male and female players in their respective tours are currently vaccinated. At least two men — American Tennys Sandgren and Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert — skipped the first major tournament of the year due to the vaccine requirement.

Djokovic’s attempts to receive a medical exemption because he was not vaccinated caused anger in Australia. Australia has had strict controls on cities since then and has imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread.