POLITICS
3 MIN READ
Djokovic arrives in Australia for Open nearly a year after deportation
Australian government granted the Serbian tennis player a visa to travel to the Grand Slam event, saying it has decided to revoke the decision to cancel his visa after considering all relevant factors.
Djokovic arrives in Australia for Open nearly a year after deportation
The 2023 Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park from January 16-29. / AP
December 27, 2022

Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia nearly a year after he was deported from the country, ahead of his bid for a 10th men's singles title at next month's Australian Open.

Djokovic landed in Adelaide where he is due to play in the Adelaide International beginning on Sunday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old was deported on the eve of this year's tournament in Melbourne after he arrived in the country without being vaccinated against Covid-19.

In November, the Australian government granted the Serbian a visa to travel to the Grand Slam event, saying it had decided to revoke the decision to cancel Djokovic's visa after considering all relevant factors.

Since the cancellation of Djokovic's visa in January 2022, all Covid-related border restrictions have been removed in Australia, including the requirement to provide evidence of vaccination status to enter the country.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic gets visa to play Australian Open in January

Fans react

Earlier on Tuesday, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told reporters that Djokovic would be arriving in Australia and voiced hopes he would be welcomed.

"I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public," Tiley told reporters.

"We're a very well-educated sporting public, particularly those who come to the tennis, they love their tennis, they love seeing greatness, they love seeing great athleticism, great matches.

"And I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react like we hope they would react and have respect for that."

Djokovic's representatives and Tennis Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Serbian former world number one won the season-ending ATP Finals last month and will be favoured to claim a 10th Australian Open crown, which would bring him level with Rafa Nadal on 22 Grand Slam titles.

The 2023 Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park from January 16-29. 

READ MORE: Djokovic insists on not getting vaccinated as US Open slips away

SOURCE:TRTWorld and agencies
Explore
Australia warns protesters against disrupting Israeli President Herzog's Sydney visit
Netanyahu says 'Epstein did not work for Israel', but new files citing FBI docs suggest otherwise
Canada, France open consulates in Greenland in challenge to US' Arctic ambitions
Jack Lang told to quit French cultural centre; Norway's Mette-Marit sorry over Epstein links
Mamdani signs landmark executive order limiting ICE access to New York
Fury and outrage in US after Trump posts video of Obamas as apes
Key Benghazi suspect in US custody over 2012 deadly Libya attack
'We ask for forgiveness' — Venezuela advances amnesty bill for detainees
Carney calls Türkiye a 'vital partner' for Canada
Norway's ex-PM Thorbjorn Jagland and ex-FM Borge Brende under separate probes over Epstein links
'US has many options at disposal aside from diplomacy' — White House sets tone for Iran talks
Araghchi arrives in Oman for nuclear talks with US as Iran deploys Khorramshahr 4 missiles
'ICE behaviour not law enforcement, it's thuggery' — US Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer
UN experts condemn Russia's convictions of ICC prosecutor and judges
'We could use a little bit of a softer touch' — Trump dials back immigration tone
55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on battlefield —Zelenskyy
FBI informant 'convinced' Jeffrey Epstein was Israeli spy — US government document
US Supreme Court backs California's new electoral map, reshaping midterm battle
Iran says talks with US 'scheduled' for Friday in Oman as Trump renews threats
Ted Cruz questions Netflix and Warner Bros. execs in Senate: 'Are we right now on stolen land'