The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was warmly received this Monday morning by the public present at his first match in Australia after almost two years in the framework of a doubles match at the Adelaide international tournament.
The fans received the current number five in the world ranking with shouts of support and the classic “Novak, Novak” in a packed field and where the Serb stayed after the game to sign autographs and take photos with the fans.
Djokovic teamed up with Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the clash they lost to Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar 4-6, 6-3, 10/5.
Things we like to see ????@DjokerNole inside a tennis court ???? pic.twitter.com/Ls0ylBddx6
— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) January 2, 2023
“Nole” had been deported before the start of the 2022 Australian Open for his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a measure for which he was ordered not to enter the country for three years.
However, last November the ban was lifted, so he will have the chance to win his tenth title at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season.
Nadal loses again in the United Cup and adds two defeats in the new season
The Spanish Rafael Nadal lost this Monday with the Australian Alex De Minaur 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in Sydney for the United Cup and added the second defeat of the new tennis season, in which his first objective is the title defense at the Aus Open, to be held in Melbourne during the second half of January.
The current number 2 in the world fell with the 24th. World ranking tennis player 48 hours after a debut with a setback against the British Cameron Norrie (14th) for Group D of the mixed team tournament that opened the year of competition.
Comeback complete ????
???????? @alexdeminaur adds his first victory (3-6, 6-1, 7-5) against ???????? @Rafael Nadal on the @UnitedCupTennis.#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/KC1UKEshur
— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) January 2, 2023
Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slams, signed his loss with six straight losses in the second set and unforced errors in the third that allowed the Australian to break serve 6-5 and serve for victory.
“Honestly I can only be happy that I got my first win over Rafa on this track, it’s no secret that it’s my favorite track in the world,” De Minaur said of the fast United Cup surface.
Argentina was eliminated from the tournament this weekend after losing 5-0 in their respective series against Italy and Croatia.
