Novak Djokovic warmly welcomed in Australia after long time

• Novak Djokovic was expelled from Australia last year.
• The Serbian was deported from Australia in November.
• The government overturned the three-year ban.

Novak Djokovic, a Serbian tennis legend, returned to Australia to compete in the Adelaide International before the Australian Open and was met with a hero’s welcome.

About a year ago, Djokovic was expelled from the country for arriving without a COVID-19 immunization, at a time when strict quarantine rules and vaccine verification requirements were still in effect.

Djokovic was deported from Australia in November, but on January 16 the government overturned the three-year ban and granted him a visa to return for the Australian Open.

As he returned to action, he and Canadian teammate Vasek Pospisil fell to Tomislav Brkic and Colombia’s Gonzalo Escobar in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 10-5).

The 21-time Grand Slam winner was greeted with loud cheers and chants of “Novak, Novak” from the crowd.

The 35-year-old, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, lingered behind after the game to talk to fans and sign autographs.

He is the No. 1 seed in the men’s singles event in Adelaide, and on Tuesday he will take on Constant Lestienne of France, in preparation for the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, which begins on January 16.

Djokovic has won nine times in Melbourne, bringing his total Grand Slam win total to 20, one short of Rafael Nadal’s men’s record of 21.

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