LIVE: Kyrgios claps back at 'clueless' Rafter

Novak Djokovic had conscionable wrapped up past play by winning the ATP Finals for a grounds sixth clip when, alternatively than looking up to 2023, his caput instantly went backmost to the mode 2022 began: He was incapable to vie successful past year's Australian Open aft being deported from the state due to the fact that helium was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

That full episode, and the determination to eschew the shots required for introduction elsewhere, too, helped specify his play and, possibly to some, his legacy. So arsenic helium reflected connected his triumph astatine the year-ending championships successful Italy past November, Djokovic viewed it done the prism of what occurred successful Australia past January.

"It feels profoundly satisfying and, astatine the aforesaid time, immense relief, due to the fact that of the circumstances that I person been done this twelvemonth — situations earlier this year, of course, with Australia... That had an effect, obviously, connected my commencement of the year," the 35-year-old from Serbia said.

"For the archetypal respective months, I was trying to find that balance, game-wise but besides mentally, successful bid to beryllium capable to travel backmost to the tribunal and find that tennis level that I need."

When the caller Grand Slam play begins astatine the Australian Open connected Monday, Djokovic volition beryllium back. Back successful Australia — contempt ne'er getting inoculated against the coronavirus — acknowledgment to authorities decisions to region immoderate vaccination requirements for visitors and to waive what could person been three-year prohibition for him arsenic idiosyncratic whose visa had been revoked. Back astatine a tourney helium has dominated similar nary other, resulting successful 9 of his 21 large trophies, including the past 3 times helium played there.

Back successful presumption to strive for elite presumption and to situation his large rival Rafael Nadal for supremacy successful the Grand Slam rubric chase. Sure, it is Nadal who is the defending champion and who owns a men's grounds 22 majors. It is Djokovic, though, who volition gully the astir attention. And it is Djokovic who volition beryllium viewed arsenic the favourite — and would person been, adjacent had helium not started disconnected his travel to Australia by winning a tune-up rubric successful Adelaide.

The lead-up to this Australian Open has been filled with speech astir who volition not beryllium there: Serena Williams and Roger Federer ended their playing careers successful 2022, arsenic did Ash Barty; No.1-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and seven-time large champion Venus Williams are injured; erstwhile No.1 and four-time slam victor Naomi Osaka past played a completed lucifer successful August; different erstwhile top-ranked player, Simona Halep, is serving a provisional doping suspension.

Once play begins, the speech volition squarely beryllium astir Djokovic, and astir folks successful the athletics look to hold helium should beryllium backmost successful the field.

Nadal, for one, called it "good for tennis."

"It's bully to spot cooler heads prevailing there, (after) authorities got successful the way," erstwhile US Davis Cup skipper Mardy Fish said.

Frances Tiafoe, an American who reached the US Open semi finals, said: "We privation the biggest players playing successful the biggest tournaments successful the world, careless of everything else. We're trying to merchantability a merchandise astatine the extremity of the day, and you privation those large names astatine the large events."

One measurement of however overmuch things person changed, adjacent arsenic the coronavirus remains a portion of regular beingness astir the world: For the archetypal clip since 2020, players astatine the Australian Open volition not request to aforesaid study if they trial affirmative for COVID-19; tourney manager Craig Tiley said they're simply being encouraged to enactment distant if they are sick.

Djokovic's ineligible saga created plentifulness of play — and drew plentifulness nationalist look of opinions, whether from those pleased helium wasn't allowed into the state oregon those protesting the result — a twelvemonth ago, but the effect to his instrumentality has been alternatively muted truthful far, with small fuss oregon fanfare.

"Everybody was precise welcoming" upon his arrival, Djokovic said, declaring much than once: "I don't clasp a grudge."

So what if helium hasn't won a Grand Slam lucifer played connected a hard tribunal since 2021? (He was not astatine the US Open due to the fact that helium couldn't participate the United States arsenic an unvaccinated foreigner, a argumentation that was precocious extended, meaning Djokovic mightiness beryllium incapable to participate the tournaments astatine Indian Wells and Miami again.)

So what if helium is "only" ranked No.5?

"In my mind, I ever spot myself arsenic the champion subordinate successful the world, of course. I person that benignant of mentality and that benignant of approach," Djokovic said, "regardless of who is crossed the net, careless of what the aboveground is, careless of what play it is."