Tennis News : Serbia President slams Australian government over 'persecution' of Serb nation

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he was stunned Novak Djokovic faces deportation again after the Australian government revoked his visa for a second time.

Vucic said governmental powers had been "harassing and persecuting" Novak as well as the "whole nation" of Serbia.

Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said Friday he used his ministerial discretion to cancel the 34-year-old Serb's visa on public interest grounds — just three days before play begins at the Australian Open, where Djokovic has won a record nine of his 20 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic's lawyers were expected to appeal at the Federal Circuit and Family Court, which they already successfully did last week on procedural grounds after his visa was first canceled when he landed at a Melbourne airport.

Deportation from Australia usually leads to a three-year ban on returning to the country.