Tennis: Novak Djokovic's return to the Australian Open
Serbian Novak Djokovic after his victory in the final of the Adelaide tournament against Sebastian Korda on January 8, 2023. AP - Kelly Barnes
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
2 mins
Novak Djokovic will face Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round of the Australian Open for his comeback in Melbourne.
The Serb had been banned from Australian territory and prevented from participating last year because he was not vaccinated with Covid-19.
He is seeking a 22nd Grand Slam title and a tenth coronation at the Australian Open (January 15-29).
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Expelled from
Australian territory
a year ago for not having been vaccinated against covid-19, Serbian Novak Djokovic is back in
Melbourne
where he hopes to win a 22nd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open (15 -January 29), which would allow him to equal Rafael Nadal's record.
Playing your “
best tennis
”
Djokovic, who expressed his desire
to "move forward
" at the start of his 2023 season, returned to this episode.
"
It's part of the things that don't let go, that stay with you for, I guess, the rest of your life
," the 35-year-old explained on the sidelines of a training session in Adelaide.
“
Like I said, I had never experienced anything like it, and I hope I never have to face
it again ,” he added.
Whoever feels he has always been supported in
Australia
wants to play his “
best tennis
” once again.
The Serbian ended 2022 in 5th place in the world, after a truncated season due to his unvaccinated status.
He had started it by trying to circumvent the vaccination obligation then in force in Australia with a derogation deemed unjustified by the Australian authorities.
This episode had earned him deportation from the country after a stay in a detention center, criticism from the local political class and legal action.
He had also been given a three-year inadmissibility, but that was lifted following a
change of government in Australia
earlier this year.
First title of the year in Adelaide
In search of a tenth coronation at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic will face Roberto Carballés Baena, 75th player in the world.
Novak Djokovic won his first title of the year on Sunday January 8 in Adelaide, beating the American Sebastian Korda 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the final.
The Serb is due to face local Nick Kyrgios on Friday January 13 in a charity match and could meet him again in the quarter-finals.
In the absence of world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz, injured and forfeited, defending champion Rafael Nadal advances as the number 1 seed at the Australian Open.
He will start against Jack Draper.
The number 2 seed, Casper Ruud, will face Tomas Machac.
Daniil Medvedev, runner-up in the last two editions, will start against Marcos Giron, while Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded number 3, will have to struggle against Frenchman Quentin Halys.
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