Novak Djokovic started his year on top of the world as the number one men's tennis player and, almost, its greatest champion.

The 34-year-old had his sights on defending his title at the Australian Open, having been granted an exemption to play without having been vaccinated against COVID-19.

If he won the tournament, he would have overtaken Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to have won the most grand slam singles titles by any male player of all time.

But, within days, the Serbian star found himself embroiled in a legal and diplomatic stoush that squashed that goal.

Here's how the events unfolded.

November 18

Djokovic is granted a temporary visa that allows people to work in Australia on a short-term basis, including for sporting activities.

November 19

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley confirms all players must be vaccinated to play in the Australian Open (AO).

"We have been speaking to Novak Djokovic's team and Novak and the team understand, clearly, that in order to come and play the Australian Open they'll need to be fully vaccinated," Tiley says.

November 20

Djokovic tells reporters at the ATP Finals in Italy that "we'll have to wait and see" if he competes at the AO.

November 29

Djokovic's father, Srdjan, tells Serbia's TV Prva that his son probably won't play in the AO, "under these blackmails and conditions".

Meanwhile, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt writes to Tiley at Tennis Australia saying players wishing to enter Australia quarantine-free had to be fully vaccinated and could not count a previous infection as a reason for exemption.

December 8

Tennis Australia lists Djokovic among the players granted automatic entry to play in the men's singles at the AO.

In a statement, TA confirms players and staff will need "certified proof of vaccination, or a valid medical exemption approved by Australian medical officials" to enter the country.

It says international arrivals who don't meet these requirements will need to quarantine for 14 days — meaning they will need to arrive before January 2 in order to compete.

December 9 

Tiley says Djokovic has not received a medical exemption to participate in the AO.

December 14

Djokovic attends a basketball game in Belgrade in Serbia, after which some attendees reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

December 16

Djokovic says he tested negative for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test (RAT).

He tests positive for COVID-19 on a PCR test taken later that day.

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The Serbian Institute of Public Health delivers the positive result at 8:19pm.

December 17

While waiting for the PCR test result, Djokovic says he took another RAT, which was negative.

He presents awards at a tennis event for children in Belgrade.

Djokovic says he received the positive result of his PCR test after the event.

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December 18

Djokovic attends an interview in-person with journalist Franck Ramella from French publication L'Equipe.

December 22

Tiley admits a small number of players and staff will be allowed into Melbourne Park without being vaccinated after being granted medical exemptions.

December 29

Djokovic pulls out of the Serbian team for the ATP Cup in Sydney, which was due to start on January 8.

December 30

Djokovic receives a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Tennis Australia stating he has been granted a "medical exemption from COVID vaccination" on the grounds that he recently recovered from COVID-19.

January 1

Djokovic receives an automated online confirmation via the Australian Travel Declaration website/app that he meets the requirements for a "quarantine-free arrival into Australia where permitted by the jurisdiction of your arrival".

January 4

Djokovic announces on Instagram that he's received "exemption permission" and will travel to Australia.

"Today I'm heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let's go 2022."

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The AO confirms Djokovic received the exemption following separate reviews from:

• Tennis Australia's independent panel, and
• The Victorian Health Department review panel.

The panels were "blind", meaning they did not know the identity of the people they were assessing.

Tiley says that, out of the 26 anonymous exemption applications made by players or their support staff, only a "handful" were granted.

January 5

The Acting Australian Border Force Commissioner examines an "issue" with Djokovic's Australian Travel Declaration.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews says the federal government will enforce requirements at the Australian border.

"If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travellers," Ms Andrews said in a statement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison tells reporters Djokovic will need to "provide acceptable proof" that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

"If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else, and he'll be on the next plane home," Mr Morrison said.

January 6

Djokovic arrives at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport from Spain via Dubai late on January 5.

He is detained by Border Force officials and interviewed over several hours.

His visa is cancelled at 7:29am on January 6.

About 10am, Djokovic is taken to the Park Hotel in Melbourne, which is controlled by immigration officials.

His lawyers launch a Federal Circuit Court challenge to the federal government's decision to deport their client.

The case is adjourned until January 10.

Mr Morrison says Djokovic is not welcome in Australia and will be deported.

"People are welcome in Australia, but if you're not double-vaccinated and you're not a resident or citizen, then you can't come," Mr Morrison says.

Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vučić, says he will use all diplomatic avenues available to help Djokovic.

"Our bodies are doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end, immediately," Mr Vučić says.

January 8

Victoria's Acting Premier, Jacinta Allan, says Tennis Australia did not share that the federal health minister had warned in November that players wouldn't be granted vaccine exemptions if they had recently contracted COVID-19.

Djokovic's father says moves to deport his son from Australia are politically motivated.

Djokovic's lawyers file court submissions revealing he received a medical exemption on the grounds he had contracted COVID-19 less than a month ago and had since recovered.

January 9

The federal government files court submissions stating that the automated travel declaration Djokovic received on January 1 was not an assurance that his exemption to enter Australia without being vaccinated would be accepted.

"There is no such thing as an assurance of entry by a non-citizen into Australia. Rather, there are criteria and conditions for entry, and reasons for refusal or cancellation of a visa," the submission said.

January 10

Judge Anthony Kelly quashes the cancellation of Djokovic's visa and orders he be released from immigration detention.

"I'm pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and try to compete [at the] Australian Open," Djokovic says.

Fans swarm outside Djokovic's lawyers' office, ending in one man's arrest and dozens of people being pepper-sprayed by police.

January 11

Questions are raised about whether Djokovic lied on an official Australian border entry form.

On that form, Djokovic had declared that he had not travelled in the 14 days before arriving in Australia.

To have been within border entry rules, he would had to have been in Spain for two weeks from December 22.

But a number of social media posts and news articles surface, showing he was in Serbia at Christmas time.

January 12

Djokovic blames his support team for the error on his incorrect travel declaration, stating his agent made an "administrative mistake".

He says the mistake was "a human error" and "certainly not deliberate".

He also calls his decision to conduct an interview with French magazine L'Equipe while knowingly positive with COVID-19 "an error of judgement".

January 13

When the draw for the Australian Open is announced, Djokovic is drawn against Serbia's world number 78, Miomir Kecmanovic, a match due to take place on Monday, January 17.

January 14

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke uses his ministerial powers to cancel Djokovic's visa at 5:52pm on Friday.

In a statement, Mr Hakwe says he made the decision "on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so".

"Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected," Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

January 15

Djokovic's lawyers file a submission with the Federal Court, arguing the visa cancellation is legally invalid.

Mr Hawke's lawyer argues Djokovic's presence in Australia poses a health risk by causing "an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment".

Djokovic is returned to the Park Hotel for immigration detention.

January 16

Djokovic loses his fight to stay in Australia and is automatically banned from re-entering the country for three years.

This decision to dismiss the application is unanimous between the three judges.

The court finds Djokovic's lawyers failed to demonstrate the minister's decision to cancel his visa was unlawful, irrational or legally unreasonable.

Djokovic is deported from Australia, and leaves Melbourne on a flight to Dubai that night.

In a statement, Djokovic says he is "extremely disappointed".

"I respect the Court's ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country," Djokovic says.

"I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love."

Mr Hawke and Mr Morrison both welcome the court's ruling.

The ATP says the decision marks the end of a "deeply regrettable series of events".

"Ultimately, decisions of legal authorities regarding matters of public health must be respected," the ATP says in a statement.

"Irrespective of how this point has been reached, Novak is one of our sport's greatest champions and his absence from the Australian Open is a loss for the game."

January 17

Mr Morrison says there is a possibility Djokovic could be allowed to return to Australia in the next three years.

"There is the opportunity for them to return in the right circumstances and that would be considered at the time," the PM says.

The Australian Open begins. It is the first time Djokovic has missed the tournament since 2004.

He has won nine titles at Melbourne Park, his favourite grand slam venue.

A three year-ban from Australia could dash his hopes of matching or breaking Margaret Court's record of 11 singles titles at the Australian Open.