The Serbian tennis player returns to the oceanic country where he aspires to add his tenth crown in the Australian Grand Slam
The Balkan will start his preparation at the ATP 250 in Adelaide starting this Sunday
Novak Djokovic He has disembarked in Australia today, ready to begin the reconquest of a crown for which he could not fight last year. Almost twelve months after his deportation from the country for breaching the anti-covid health protocols, the Serbian tennis player arrived yesterday in Adelaide where his Australian tour will start this Sunday with participation in the Adelaide International ATP 250.
A tournament with which he will prepare the Australian Open (January 16 to 29) and in which Medvedev, Auger-Aliassime, Rublev and Sinner, among others, are also confirmed.
Thus closes the dramatic chapter that Djokovic lived in January 2022when the ocean authorities held him in a hotel and ended up deporting him generating a stir among detractors and followers of the former number one and incidentally, a debate about the benefits, or not, of vaccination. His refusal to get vaccinated against the covid deprived him of entering the country and participating in Melbourne, but a year later, the Balkan is “welcome” and will be able to fight to win his tenth crown at the Australian Open.
A victory with which he would equal Rafa Nadal, current Australian Open champion, in number of Grand Slams (22). The Spaniard will be one of the rivals to beat on Australian soil and is also already in Sydney, where he will play the new United Cup, a mixed tournament that replaces the old ATP Cup.
Djokovic, favorite
The presence of the Serbian in the tournament places him once again as one of the top contenders for victory. Craig Tiley, director of Tennis Australia, is clear that Novak is one of the great favorites. “Djokovic finished 2022 playing the best tennis. He does want to equal the current record held by Rafa. He has the goal of being the greatest of all time. I think he’s going to be the player to beat again”, he stated for ‘The Age’.
On the other hand, he valued one of the great local hopes, Nick Kyrgios. “We would love for Nick to do well. It is a day-to-day situation, we want him to stay healthy and enjoy the competition”, he commented.
