MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 02: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a point during his Men’s … [+]
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Twelve months after being deported from Australia due to his decision not to get vaccinated against Covid-19, Novak Djokovic is back Down Under ahead of the start of next month’s Australian Open.
Djokovic, who is one Grand Slam title behind Rafael Nadal’s record of 22, will play the Adelaide International beginning Sunday, and then the Australian Open starting Jan. 16 in Melbourne.
The nine-time Australian Open champion had an automatic three-year visa ban overturned in November.
“I think that he is going to be again the player to beat,” ກ່າວວ່າ Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley.
Last month, the 35-year-old Serb won his record-tying sixth ATP Finals title in Turin, Italy, defeating Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-3.
ເຊີບ ເສຍໃນຮອບຮອງຊະນະເລີດຂອງ French Open to his rival Nadal ແຕ່ໄດ້ຊະນະແຊ້ມ Wimbledon ສີ່ຕິດຕໍ່ກັນຂອງລາວ ສໍາລັບຕໍາແໜ່ງຫລັກ 21 ຂອງລາວ.
He was not allowed to play the U.S. Open — or Indian Wells or Miami — because unvaccinated foreigners were not permitted to fly into the country.
During a weird year in which he missed long stretches due to his vaccination status, he won Rome, Tel Aviv and Astana.
Tiley said he did not expect a backlash to Djokovic’s return.
“We welcome him back to Australia.
“I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public. I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react how we hope they will react.”
Djokovic, now ranked No. 5 in the world, said in November he was looking forward to returning to Melbourne.
“[The] Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam,” he added. “I made some of the best memories there.
“Of course, I want to go back there, I want to play tennis, do what I do best, hopefully have a great Australian summer.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2022/12/27/novak-djokovic-arrives-in-adelaide-ahead-of-next-months-australian-open/