Novak Djokovic has landed Down Under as he steps up his Australian Open plans almost a year after being deported on the eve of the 2022 tournament.
The Serbian tennis legend's deportation from Australia in January was a global story that transcended sport. Djokovic was detained upon his arrival in the country over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid amid strict pandemic restrictions.
And the 35-year-old was handed an automatic three-year visa ban and kicked out of Australia the night before the Grand Slam began after unanimously losing a court appeal.
But Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam winner, has since been granted a visa and has been welcomed back to the country after touching down in Adelaide before next month's Australian Open.
Djokovic will ramp up his preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year by starting his season at the Adelaide International, before heading to Melbourne on the hunt for his 10th Aussie Open crown.
And he hopes to receive a warm reception from the Australian public on his return after the storm that preceded the 2022 event.
"I always ask the best from myself so let's see," Djokovic said last week. "Over the years I've been really fortunate to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there.
"After obviously what happened earlier this year, hopefully I can have a decent reception there and hopefully that can help me play some good tennis."
Djokovic's vaccination stance also blocked him from competing at the US Open in an unprecedented year of disruption for the Serb in 2022.
But he now has the chance to match Rafael Nadal's tally of 22 Grand Slam titles as he heads to Melbourne Park in mid January as tournament favourite.
And tournament chief Craig Tiley believes that Djokovic is the man to beat as he awaits the reaction to his return from the Australian public.
“We welcome him back to Australia,” Tiley said. “I think as we speak he’s landing in Adelaide and I think that he is going to be again the player to beat.
“I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public. I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react how we hope they will react.”
