Australian Open: Djokovic hopes for a warm welcome a year after his deportation

Serbian Novak Djokovic confirmed that he hopes to receive a warm welcome from the public upon his return to the Australian Open next month, after the drama of his deportation from the country early this year for not receiving the anti-coronavirus vaccine.

Djokovic traveled to Melbourne in January hoping to defend his title and win the tenth Australian Open, the first of the four Grand Slams.

However, his visa was canceled because he did not receive the coronavirus vaccine and thus did not comply with the laws imposed on expatriates.

He was held in a hotel housing refugees before being deported from the country.

As a result of his deportation, Djokovic, 35, was banned from entering Australia again before the authorities reversed this decision.

The world number five expressed his happiness at having the opportunity to compete for the tenth title in Melbourne and to equal the record of Spain's Rafael Nadal in the number of major titles (22).

"I always ask the best of myself, so let's see. Over the years I've been really lucky because I started strong in Australia and I love playing there," he told reporters on the sidelines of an exhibition tournament in Dubai today.

"After what happened earlier this year, I hope I get a decent reception there and I hope that helps me to do well."

For the same reason, he was banned from traveling to New York, which also prevented him from participating in the US Open, after winning his seventh title at Wimbledon in July. He also achieved the 2022 titles in Tel Aviv, Astana and Rome for the Masters and the Final Championship with 42 wins and seven defeats during the season.

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