Djokovic receives positive welcome back to Australia

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic hits a return during his first round doubles match with Canadian Vasek Pospisil at the ATP Adelaide International tournament in Adelaide on January 2, 2023. (Photo by Brenton EDWARDS / AFP)

Nadal loses again in United Cup

Novak Djokovic received a positive welcome back to Australia, as he made a rare doubles appearances at the Adelaide International. The Serb was deported prior to the 2022 Australian Open, because of his COVID-19 vaccination status.

Djokovic’s three-year visa ban was overturned in November, allowing him to enter the country. He and Canada’s Vasek Pospisil were beaten 4-6 6-3 10-5 by Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar on his return.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed overwhelming support from the crowd throughout the match, greeted by cheers and chants of ‘Novak, Novak,’ as he made his way on to court.

The 35-year-old, currently ranked world number five, stayed behind after the defeat to sign autographs and take photographs with fans. He is top seed in the singles in Adelaide and will face Frenchman Constant Lestienne in the first round today, as he continues his build-up to the Australian Open, the first major of the season, starts on January 16.

Djokovic is a nine-time champion in Melbourne and is just one Grand Slam title shy of Rafael Nadal’s men’s record of 22. Elsewhere, in Adelaide, men’s singles, yesterday, British number three Jack Draper beat South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo 6-2 6-1 to move into the second round.

Australian qualifier, Alexei Popyrin, stunned Canada’s second seed and world number six Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 (7-5), while world number 11 Holger Rune, of Denmark, also suffered an early exit at the hands of Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who won 2-6