Tennis: Djokovic has not forgotten his expulsion from Australia, but wants to “go ahead”

The Serbian player, present in Australia to prepare the first Grand Chelem tournament of the season, had been sent back from the country a year ago because of his non-vaccination against the COVVI-19.

MO12345LEMONDE

resentment but not too much. Arrived Tuesday, December 27 in Australia where he was to compete in Adelaide his first tournament of the year, Novak Djokovic said that he could probably never forget the episode of his expulsion from Australia a year ago, because of his non-vaccination against the COVID-19.

“This is one of the things that don’t let you go, that stay in you for, I suppose, the rest of your days, admitted the 35 -year -old, on the sidelines of a training session. As I I said it, I had never experienced such a thing, and I hope I will never face it again. “

The world’s number five Serbian, which will try from January 16, to win a 22 e Title du Grand Slam during the Australian Open in Melbourne – which would allow him equal the record of Rafael Nadal -, however, expressed his desire “to go ahead”, noting in particular the good reception which had been given to him so far.

“It has only been two days since I am here but (…) everyone was very pleasant, extremely kind to me,” he said. “I have always felt very well in Australia, I have always played my best tennis and I was very supported, so I hope to live another big summer” Austral, added the Serbian, who has already won to Nine times the Australian Open.

“It’s good for tennis”

This is the first visit of Novak Djokovic on the continent island since his expulsion in January, when he had tried, to compete in the major tournament, to bypass the vaccination obligation then in force in Australia with a derogation deemed unjustified by the national authorities.

This episode had earned him to be expelled from the country after a stay in a detention center, criticism from local political leaders and a judicial appeal which had kept the world of tennis. “Nole” had also been sentenced to a three-year territory ban, but this measure was lifted in favor of a change of government in Australia in the course of the year.

For his part, Rafael Nadal praised the presence of the Serbian in Australia. “Novak is there, it’s good for tennis, probably good for fans,” said the Mallorquin (world number two), which participates in the United Cup, a mixed team mixed tournament this Thursday in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.