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MELBOURNE. — Former world No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia yesterday almost one year after he was deported for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19, tennis officials said.
The nine-time Australian Open champion was initially banned from the country for three years after losing a high-stakes legal battle in January over his vaccine status.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid.
The government confirmed in November that the unvaccinated Serb was no longer barred and had been granted a visa allowing him to play in the opening Grand Slam of the year, which starts next month.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said he hoped local fans would embrace Djokovic’s return.
“We welcome him back to Australia,” he told reporters.
“I think as we speak he’s landing in Adelaide and I think that he is going to be again the player to beat.
“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.”
Tennis Australia confirmed that Djokovic had touched down.
Djokovic, who has won 21 Grand Slams, has been criticised for his part in the saga, which played out as rolling anti-vaccination protests took place in Australia’s major cities.
He is scheduled to play in the Adelaide International, beginning on Sunday, as he warms up for the Open in Melbourne.
“Over the years I’ve been really fortunate to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there,” the world No. 5 said in Dubai last week after ending 2022 with a record-equalling sixth ATP Tour Finals crown.
“After obviously what happened earlier this year, hopefully I can have a decent reception there and hopefully that can help me play some good tennis.”
Djokovic last set foot in Australia nearly a year ago, claiming he had obtained a medical exemption to enter the country without being vaccinated because he had recently recovered from Covid-19.
However, Australian border officials said he did not meet the requirements to be exempted from strict vaccination rules and he was detained for five days while pursuing an ultimately fruitless legal appeal.
Meanwhile, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal kick-start their 2023 campaigns this week in Adelaide and Sydney respectively, with the superstar veterans and great rivals eyeing up yet more Australian Open glory.
With the pair sharing 43 Grand Slam titles between them — Djokovic has 21 and Nadal 22 — the scene is set for an epic showdown at Melbourne Park in January.
Nadal is the defending Australian Open champion and Djokovic is a nine-time winner.
Djokovic returns Down Under for the first time since being sensationally detained and then deported ahead of the 2022 Australian Open because of his refusal to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
He starts his bid for an incredible 10th Australian Open title at the Adelaide International from Sunday, following a troubled and truncated year in which he missed two majors because of his vaccine status.
Djokovic was initially barred from entering Australia before 2025, but a new government in Canberra reversed the ruling and he is now gunning for more silverware at his most successful Grand Slam venue.
“Over the years I’ve been really fortunate to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there,” said the world No. 5 in Dubai last week, after ending 2022 with a record-equalling sixth ATP Tour Finals crown.
“After obviously what happened earlier this year, hopefully I can have a decent reception there and hopefully that can help me play some good tennis.”
He will face a top-notch field in Adelaide, including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, ranked six, seven and eight respectively.
In Djokovic’s absence this year, Spanish great Nadal swept past Medvedev to win the Australian Open in an epic five-setter — then backed it up with a 14th French Open.
Nadal will begin his preparations in Sydney at the United Cup, a new mixed-teams event, where a blockbuster showdown with Australian showman Nick Kyrgios will test his credentials.
Eighteen countries will compete in the event across 11 days from tomorrow, with Brisbane, Perth and Sydney hosting group games in a round-robin format.
Ties comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles.
The finals series will be played in Sydney. — AFP
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