Djokovic returned to Australia a year after the protracted judicial scandal that ended in his expulsion

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovicc, former world number one, returned this Tuesday to Australia nearly a year after he starred in a long-running legal soap opera that ended in his deportation following his staunch refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“He will be the player to beat”estimated this Tuesday the director of the Australian Open, Craig Tileycoinciding with the day of Nole’s return to the oceanic country. “We welcome you to Australia”, added the patron of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which will be played between January 16 and 29 in Melbourne.

“I think when we talk he will land in Adelaide and I think he will be the player to beat again.”concluded Tiley. The Australian tennis federation confirmed shortly after that the Serb had landed in the country.

As part of his preparation for the Australian Open, Djokovic, currently number five in the world, will play the tournament in Adelaide starting on Sunday.

The Serbian was unable to participate in the 2022 edition of the Australian Open after being expelled from the country for not being vaccinated against Covid-19. He had attempted to enter the country on a waiver that was ultimately rejected and was expelled shortly before the start of the tournament, after spending several days in a migrant detention center and appealing to the courts.

He was then also punished with a ban on entering Australian territory for three years.

The vaccination requirement to enter Australia has since been lifted and Djokovic, 35, obtained a visa after the ban on entering the country was also lifted in November.

Freightcurrent number 5 in the world rankings and winner of five titles in 2022 -including Wimbledon-, he appears as one of the great favorites to win the Australian Open, a tournament in which he has won nine times.

“In the past I’ve always had the opportunity to start my years very well in Australia and I enjoy playing there.”recalled the man who won 21 Grand Slam titles in Dubai on Friday.

“After what happened last year, I hope that I will be properly received and that this will help me play my best tennis,” he added.

Djokovic started 2022 as world number one but then dropped down the rankings. He was unable to play two Grand Slams last season, as his refusal to get vaccinated prevented him from making it to the US Open as well.

He ended the last season in great form, winning the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy and, above all, the Masters at the end of the season in Turin (Italy).

If he achieves his tenth Australian Open title, he will equal the record for number of Grand Slam titles, currently set at 22 by Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

Source: AFP