Adelaide (AP) – Tennis star Novak Djokovic is happy about his return to Australia. “It’s great to be back in Australia,” said the Serb in Adelaide, where he will play the ATP tournament starting on New Year’s Day and prepare for the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“It’s a country where I’ve had tremendous success in my career, particularly in Melbourne,” added the 35-year-old. “I hope everything is positive.” He will “do his best to play good tennis and give the crowd good emotions and good feelings,” said the 21-time Grand Slam winner.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times. Last January he had to leave the country before the start of the tournament due to his lack of vaccination against the corona virus. His visa had previously been canceled and a three-year entry ban imposed. The entry ban has now been lifted by the Australian authorities.
“Of course, what happened twelve months ago wasn’t easy for me, for my family, my team and everyone close to me. Obviously it’s disappointing to leave the country like this,” Djokovic said. “You can’t forget these events. It’s one of those things that will stay with you for the rest of your life. I’ve never experienced anything like it and I hope I never will again. But it’s a valuable life experience for me and something will remain. But I have to go on.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:221229-99-43950/2
