Novak Djokovic opens up on Australian Open deportation ordeal and says ‘you can’t forget those events’

Novak Djokovic is still haunted by the personal ordeal of being deported from Australia earlier this year, as he looks ahead to the first Grand Slam of 2023.

The Serb was controversially deported shortly before the start of the Australian Open due to his Covid-19 vaccination status, and was initially given a three-year travel ban from the country.

However, that decision was subsequently overturned last month to allow Djokovic to compete in Australia next month.

“You can’t forget those events, it’s one of those things that stick with you,” Djokovic told reporters in his first news conference since returning to Australia. “It stays with you for the rest of your life.

“It’s something I’ve never experienced before and hopefully never again, but it is a valuable life experience for me.

“But I have to move on and coming back to Australia speaks about how I feel about this country and how I feel about playing here.”

Djokovic admits he has mixed feelings about returning to Australia – a place where he has managed to win nine Grand Slams, and says time has helped to heal the wounds from almost a year ago.

“What happened 12 months ago was not easy to digest for some time but at the same time I had to move on,” he added. “Those circumstances will not replace what I have lived in Melbourne and in Australia throughout my entire career.

“So, I come with positive emotions and I really look forward to playing there. It’s been my favourite Grand Slam; the results prove that.”

The Australian Open begins on January 16, but Djokovic will initially turn his attention to the Adelaide International on January 1, in what will serve as a warm-up tournament for the first Grand Slam of the calendar year.

Djokovic said: “It’s a great place and the people in Adelaide, and generally in Australia, love tennis, love sports and it’s a sporting nation so hopefully we’re going to have a lot of people watching and we can have a good time.

“I’m hoping everything is going to be positive. Obviously, it’s not something that I can predict. I’ll do my best to play some good tennis and bring good emotions and good feelings to the crowd.”

The world No. 5 will battle against a stellar line-up which includes Felix Auger-Aliassime (world No. 6), Daniil Medvedev (No. 7), Andrey Rublev (No. 8) and Holger Rune (No. 11) in South Australia.

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