Online Reporter
SYDNEY. — Novak Djokovic has admitted to still getting stressed when he gets off a plane at Melbourne airport after he was deported from Australia three years ago.
The 24-times Grand Slam champion had his visa cancelled ahead of the 2022 Australian Open following days of drama over Australia’s COVID entry rules and his unvaccinated status.
“I have to be quite frank,” Djokovic said in an interview with Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.
“The last couple of times I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration – I had a bit of trauma from three years ago.
“And some traces still stay there when I’m passing passport control, just checking out if someone from immigration zone is approaching.
“The person checking my passport – are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling.”
The Serbian returned to Melbourne Park in 2023 when the worst of the pandemic was over and won a 10th Australian Open title.
“I don’t hold any resentment, to be honest,” the 37-year-old added. “I don’t hold a grudge. I came right away the year after … and I won.
“My parents and whole team were there and it was actually one of the most emotional wins I’ve ever had considering all that I’d been through the year before.”
Djokovic, who is ranked seventh in the world, will be on the hunt for a record 25th major title when the 2025 Australian Open begins next Sunday. Meanwhile, France’s Alexandre Muller lifted his first ATP Tour title by beating Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the final of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday. Muller won in 1hr 43min to end the Japanese player’s bid for a first ATP Tour title in six years.
Comeback king Muller became just the third man to win a tour-level title having lost the opening set in every match he played during the tournament.
“Thank you everyone for the support tonight,” said the Frenchman.
“It’s been an amazing week for me, losing the first set in all the matches,” he added. I have no words, I’m sorry, I just won the match, but thank you everyone.”
Nishikori, 35, who reached the US Open final in 2014, raced through the first set at Victoria Park in just 33 minutes but ran out of steam to lose in 1hr 43min. It was the injury-plagued Nishikori’s 27th tour-level final and his first since winning in Brisbane in 2019.
The former world No 4 Nishikori has emerged from years of injuries, including major hip surgery, to roll back the years in a fairytale run to the Hong Kong final. — SuperSport.
){kind=link}