Novak is back.

Expelled from Australia on January 16, 2022 after a legal battle with the authorities because of his non-vaccinated status against Covid-19, the Serbian tennis player will be able to participate this time in the Australian Open in Melbourne ( from January 16 to 29).

Novak Djokovic, who arrived on December 27 in the territory, has already been able to play in the Adelaide tournament – ​​which he won on Sunday January 8 against the American Sebastian Korda (6-7 (8/10), 7-6 ( 7/3), 6-4).

Appearing on the courts in the south of the country will have served as preparation for "Djoko" before the start of the major Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne, where he will face Roberto Carballés Baena in the first round.

But it will also have allowed him to feel the atmosphere a year after his position which had caused a stir in Australia – namely to play without being vaccinated, while the country was subject to some of the strictest sanitary conditions in the world.

It is a warm welcome which was nevertheless reserved for him during his first match at the Adelaide tournament.

An encouraging response to his "Happy to be back" posted on Instagram, a week before the meeting.

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole)

Applause, encouragement to the rhythm of "Novak, Novak", selfie and autograph sessions when it came out... "Djoko" aroused enthusiasm.

Certainly, the Serbian flags in the crowded stands testified to the presence of many compatriots, but the 35-year-old player seemed to be unanimous.

A world of deviation from the treatment he received a year ago from the authorities after he tried to circumvent the vaccination obligation then in force in this country.

“I had never known such a thing”

Everything had changed on January 5, 2022. As soon as he arrived on Australian territory, Novak Djokovic found himself entangled in a legal match against the authorities – who had finally obtained his expulsion, despite a medical exemption issued by the Australian Federation.

In the meantime, the Serbian player will spend several days in a detention center.

But against all odds, justice will take the executive from behind and suspend the expulsion of "Djoko" by restoring his freedom of movement.

Eventually, Australia's immigration minister will use his "personal power to cancel" a visa, saying Novak Djokovic's presence in Australia "could encourage anti-vaccination sentiment".

>> To read: a year ago, five questions about the Novak Djokovic case before the start of the Australian Open

Because Australia had only reopened its borders two months earlier, in November 2021, after more than a year and a half of closure.

In addition, Melbourne – where the Australian Open takes place – was then the city that experienced the longest confinement in the world (262 days in total).

"(This misadventure) is one of the things that doesn't let go, that stays with you for, I guess, the rest of your life," admitted Novak Djokovic on December 29, on the sidelines of a training session in Adelaide. .

"As I said, I had never experienced such a thing, and I hope never to face it again."

The Serbian tennis player has shown consistency since the Covid-19 pandemic: opposed to vaccination since at least April 2020, "Novax" did not play the Australian Open in 2022 and, for the same reasons, also did not participate in the US Open, or the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments.

A situation that could arise again this year.

Asked about this, on January 5, the main interested party was resigned: "I hope to be able to play, but if I can't go, I can't go".

"Djoko" will "become the player to beat again"

The tennis player, who speaks of a "life experience" about his misadventure a year ago, now prefers to "move forward".

Upon his arrival in Adelaide, "Djoko" appreciated the warm welcome he had received so far.

"I've only been here for two days but (...) everyone has been very pleasant, extremely nice to me".

"I have always felt very good in Australia, I have always played my best tennis and I have had a lot of support there, so I hope to live another great summer" austral, added the tennis player, who has already won at nine times the Australian Open – in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

"Djoko", if he lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy for the tenth time, would establish his domination of this Grand Slam a little more.

Moreover, he would be tied with Rafael Nadal – who is currently the only tennis player to have won 22 Grand Slam tournament titles.

The Spanish tennis player, moreover, was delighted with the presence of "Djoko" before the start of the Australian Open: "Novak is here, it's good for tennis".

Comments significantly different from those made a year ago, when the Serbian tennis player was battling with the authorities: "The Australian Open is much more important than any player".

Novak Djokovic will "become the player to beat again", judged the director of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, by wishing him "welcome" the day the Serbian tennis player arrived in the country.

On Wednesday January 11, a few days before the start of the tournament, he also warned that spectators who would be tempted to whistle "Djoko" would be expelled: "In Melbourne, the public really appreciates sport and performance (...). And I hope people will take that into account."

With AFP

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