ADELAIDE, Australia — Novak Djokovic is reiterating that he bears no exhausting emotions on his return to Australia after his visa cancellation and subsequent deportation in January forward of the Australian Open tennis event.
Djokovic was deported nearly 12 months in the past after arriving unvaccinated towards COVID-19 at a time when the nation was nonetheless topic to strict quarantine laws and proof of vaccination.
These laws have since been lifted, and in November, the Australian authorities overturned the three-year ban that got here with Djokovic’s deportation and granted him a visa to return for the Australian Open starting Jan. 16.
Djokovic arrived in Australia on Tuesday forward of the Adelaide Worldwide, the place he’s scheduled to play subsequent week.
“It is nice to be again in Australia,” Djokovic mentioned Thursday. “It is a nation the place I’ve had great success in my profession, significantly in Melbourne. It is by far my most profitable Grand Slam. I am hoping that every little thing goes to be optimistic. Clearly [fan reaction] will not be one thing that I can predict.
“I am going to do my greatest to play good tennis and convey good feelings and good emotions to the gang.”
Djokovic mentioned he nonetheless has problem forgetting his deportation.
“Clearly what occurred 12 months in the past was not straightforward for me, for my household, staff, anyone who’s near me,” he mentioned. “It is clearly disappointing to go away the nation like that.
“You’ll be able to’t neglect these occasions. It is certainly one of these items that stays with you for, I suppose, the remainder of your life. It is one thing that I’ve by no means skilled earlier than and hopefully by no means once more. However it’s a precious life expertise for me and one thing that as I mentioned will keep there, however I’ve to maneuver on.”
Djokovic has gained the Australian Open a file 9 occasions, together with the previous 3 times he performed. Rafael Nadal gained the 2022 title in Djokovic’s absence.
