Djokovic Lands in Serbia as Questions Arise Over French Open

Djokovic Lands in Serbia as Questions Arise Over French Open
Novak Djokovic prepares to take his seat on a plane to Belgrade, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Jan. 17, 2022. Darko Bandic/AP Photo
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BELGRADE, Serbia—Novak Djokovic returned home Monday after being thwarted from defending his Australian Open title only to face a new predicament: He could be barred from the French Open this year, too, if he’s still not vaccinated against COVID-19.

A plane carrying the No. 1-ranked player touched down in his native Serbia, closing at least the first chapter in a dizzying drama that has resonance in the world of elite sports, Australia’s pandemic politics, and the polarized debate over the coronavirus shots.