By Martin Cole-
Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia almost a year after he was deported over his Covid vaccine status.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion, 35, has landed in the country for January’s Australian Open to different circumstances he faced last year.
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The tennis ace was initially banned from the country for three years after losing a high-stakes legal battle in January over his vaccine status.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid.
Serb Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open winner, had a previous automatic three-year visa ban overturned in November.
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“I think that he is going to be again the player to beat,” said Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley.
Djokovic was detained by the Australian Border Force upon his entry into the country, and forced to stay at an immigration hotel, after he claimed he had obtained a medical exemption to defend his title without being vaccinated, because he had recently recovered from Covid-19.
His presence in the country sparked uproar at a time when Australia was just recovering from a high number of covid deaths
The Australian government eventually ruled that he did not meet the requirements for entry, so his visa was cancelled and he was automatically not allowed to return to Australia until 2025.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles – whose government came to power in May – overturned the ban last month and Djokovic said he was “very happy” on hearing the news.
Tiley said he did not expect a backlash to the player’s return and added: “We welcome him back to Australia.
“I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public. I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react how we hope they will react.”
Djokovic, the world number five, said in November he was relieved to be able to return to Melbourne.
“[The] Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam,” he added. “I made some of the best memories there.
“Of course, I want to go back there, I want to play tennis, do what I do best, hopefully have a great Australian summer.”
Djokovic, who is one Grand Slam title behind Rafael Nadal’s record of 22, is scheduled to play in the Adelaide International, beginning Sunday, with the Australian Open starting in Melbourne on 16 January.
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