Novak Djokovic will mark the new year with tennis in Australia as he starts his long-awaited return to the country by playing at the Adelaide International which starts on January 1.
The Serb, who has a record nine Australian Open titles, will be returning to the land down under a year after his much-publicized deportation and subsequent ban, following his COVID-19 vaccination debacle.
Djokovic’s visa ban was overturned in November by recently installed Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, who has since removed all Covid-related border restrictions, including the requirement that foreign visitors show proof of vaccination.
Britain’s Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund, and Jack Draper will also play in Adelaide, with the event beginning on 1 January.
Djokovic will be using competition as a good warm-up for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title with the tournament beginning 15 days later in Melbourne.
The 35-year-old who won the season-ending ATP Finals in December will be setting his sights on bagging a 22nd Grand Slam title, which would take him to level with Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who coincidentally claimed the title in his absence.
