Djokovic loses visa appeal, won’t play in Australian Open: Live updates

Goran Zabic, who was among a group of Djokovic supporters who gathered in Melbourne on Sunday, said he was “absolutely devastated, as well as shocked” by the outcome.

“I really was surprised that a person such as a minister could overturn a judicial system. So, very disappointed, very disappointed,” Zabic told CNN.

He had believed he would get to support Djokovic in the Australian Open, Zabic said. Asked if he had a message for the Serbian tennis star, he said: “Look, not to get political but I’d just like to say, Novak you’ve won the fight. But looks like you lost the political war.”

He described Djokovic as being a “national hero” to the Serbian people, adding that he was an “absolute legend, as a human and as a tennis player. Extremely important.”