Novak's nod to Aussie love affair after visa mess

1 year ago 81

Novak Djokovic admits helium "can't forget" the events of January but says the information he's returned to Australia reflects his emotion of the country.

The Serbian superstar spoke with calmness astir his deportation from Australia aft pausing a grooming league successful Adelaide, wherever he's fine-tuning for the Adelaide International.

"It's 1 of those things that sticks with you ... for the remainder of your life," Djokovic said.

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"As I said, (it's) thing that I've ne'er experienced earlier and hopefully ne'er again.

"But it is simply a invaluable beingness acquisition for maine and thing that, arsenic I said, volition enactment there, but I person to determination on.

"Coming backmost to Australia speaks (to) however I consciousness astir this country, however I consciousness astir playing here."

Djokovic, who remains unvaccinated against COVID-19, was booted from Australia up of January's Australian Open aft an unsuccessful situation of his visa cancellation successful a national court.

The 21-time large champion was slapped with a three-year prohibition but is backmost successful Australia aft immigration curate Andrew Giles overturned the suspension successful November.

Despite the shambolic circumstances successful which Djokovic was escorted, helium says Australia — wherever he's enjoyed astir of his expansive slam occurrence — is "close to my heart".

Watch Team Australia instrumentality connected the satellite successful the United Cup, unrecorded and exclusive on 9Now and Stan Sport.

"What happened 12 months agone was not casual to digest for immoderate time, but astatine the aforesaid clip I had to determination on," Djokovic said.

"That lawsuit oregon those circumstances volition not regenerate what I person lived successful Melbourne and successful Australia for my full career.

"So, I travel successful with affirmative emotions and I truly look guardant (to) playing there.

"It's my favourite slam and results are proving that."

Djokovic returns to Aussie tennis courts

Rafael Nadal hadn't won the Australian Open since 2009 but pounced successful the lack of Djokovic this year, shining astatine Melbourne Park to clinch a record-breaking 21st large title.

The Spanish ace past won the French Open to assertion his 22nd large crown.

Djokovic has won 9 Australian Open titles, triumphed astatine Wimbledon connected 7 occasions, tasted US Open glory 3 times and conquered Roland-Garros twice, for a full of 21 expansive slam titles.

The prizemoney allocated for the Australian summertime of tennis has accrued to much than $100 million.

The Australian Open currency excavation has lifted to $76.5 cardinal acknowledgment to a 3.4 per cent rise, with the 2 singles champions acceptable to person $2.98 cardinal each.

"It is captious to the continued occurrence of the Australian tennis summertime that we supply beardown and applicable playing opportunities and guarantee that the champion players successful the satellite are compensated appropriately," said Tennis Australia main enforcement Craig Tiley.

"We privation to guarantee Australia is the launchpad for the planetary play and that we spot arsenic overmuch of them arsenic possible."

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