Djokovic is back in Australia
The Serb was well received in a country that expelled him in 2022. But if he does not forget this episode of the Covid, he wants to move forward.
Novak Djokovic arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday, where he is due to play his first tournament of the year.
AFP
Novak Djokovic stressed that he could probably never forget the episode of his expulsion from the country a year ago, due to his non-vaccination against Covid-19 when starting his 2023 season in this country.
The Serb arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday, where he is due to play his first tournament of the year before trying to win a 22nd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in Melbourne (January 15-29), which will give him would equal Rafael Nadal’s record.
This is Djokovic’s first visit to the mainland island since his expulsion last January at the end of a judicial soap opera and “Djoko” returned to this dark episode on Thursday during his first meeting with the local press.
‹‹It’s one of the things that doesn’t let go, that stays with you for, I guess, the rest of your life.››
“It’s one of the things that doesn’t let go, that stays with you for, I guess, the rest of your life,” the 35-year-old admitted on the sidelines of a training session in Adelaide. And to add: “I had never experienced such a thing and I hope never to be confronted with it again.” But “referring to a life experience”, Novak Djokovic also expressed the wish “to move forward”, insisting in particular on the good reception which had been given to him until then.
“I have only been here two days, but (…) everyone has been very pleasant and extremely kind to me, he noted. 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 experience another great southern summer,” added the Serb, who has already won nine. times the Australian Open.
No 5 mondial…
The Serbian finished 2022 in 5th place in the world, after a truncated season due to his unvaccinated status. 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.
Novak Djokovic had also been given a three-year inadmissibility, but that was lifted in favor of a change of government in Australia during the year.
AFP
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