Djokovic: 'I hope to be well received in Australia'

Novak Djokovic hopes to receive a warm welcome from the public at the Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, which he has already won nine times and "likes to play", but also where the former world No. 1 will return in January after skipping the last edition.

"After what happened last year, I hope to be welcomed properly and I hope it will help me play my best tennis," the Serbian told reporters in Dubai.

    The current world No. 5 had missed the last edition of the Australian Open after being expelled from the country due to his vaccination status and at the end of a hyper-mediatized political-judicial saga.

Not vaccinated against Covid-19, Djokovic had tried to enter Australia anyway, but was expelled shortly before the start of the tournament after spending several days in a migrant centre.

    The vaccination requirement has since been lifted in Australia and the Serb has obtained a visa.

His ban on entering the territory was lifted in November.

"In the past I've always had the chance to start my years very well in Australia and I enjoy playing there," Djokovic said.

The Serbian tennis player had opened 2022 as world No. 1, but dropped a few positions in the ATP ranking, having been unable to play in two Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open and the US Open, due to his refusal to be vaccinate against Covid-19.

    Despite everything he managed to win the Wimbledon tournament, during an eventful season, which he ended with a bang, winning the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 and then the Turin Masters.

"I'd like to be able to play for as long as possible," said 'Nole', when asked about his future.

“I don't really have a number in mind. Things are going pretty good for me so far. I can't complain.

    So as long as I play at this level, as long as I have fire, I'll keep going,” he continued.

In case he wins his tenth Australian Open title he will equal the record for Grand Slam titles, currently held by Spaniard Rafael Nadal, with 22 wins.