The long-running saga surrounding Novak Djokovic and his visa wrangle with the Australian government was "a cloud hanging over the players" in the build-up the the first Grand Slam of the year.
The Serbian's 11-day fight to be able to stay in Melbourne to compete ended on Sunday when the Federal Court of Australia ruled once and for all that he was to be deported.
It came after immigration minister Alex Hawke stepped in to cancel his visa after being given a reprieve by a separate court despite issues with his documentation and medical exemption from vaccination.