Novak Djokovic will face Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round of the Australian Open for his comeback in Melbourne. The Serb had been banned from Australian territory and prevented from participating last year because he was not vaccinated with Covid-19. He is seeking a 22nd Grand Slam title and a tenth coronation at the Australian Open (January 15-29).
expelled from australian territory a year ago for not having been vaccinated against covid-19, the Serbian Novak Djokovic is back to melbourne where he hopes to win a 22nd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open (January 15-29), which would allow him to equal Rafael Nadal’s record.
Play his “ best tennis »
Djokovic who expressed his will ” to go ahead ” at the start of its 2023 season returned to this episode. ” It’s one of the things that doesn’t let go, that stays with you for, I guess, the rest of your life. “, explained the 35-year-old player, on the sidelines of a training session in Adelaide. ” As I said, I had never experienced such a thing, and I hope never to face it again “, he added. The one who feels he has always been supported in Australia wants to once again play his “ best tennis “.
The Serb ended 2022 in 5th place in the world, after a truncated season due to his unvaccinated status. He had started it by trying to circumvent the vaccination obligation then in force in Australia with a derogation deemed unjustified by the Australian authorities. This episode had earned him deportation from the country after a stay in a detention center, criticism from the local political class and legal action. He had also received a three-year inadmissibility, but this measure was lifted in favor of a change of government in australia during the year.
First title of the year in Adelaide
In search of a tenth coronation at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic will face Roberto Carballés Baena, 75th player in the world. Novak Djokovic won his first title of the year on Sunday January 8 in Adelaide, beating the American Sebastian Korda 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the final. The Serb is due to face local Nick Kyrgios on Friday January 13 in a charity match and could cross paths with him again in the quarter-finals.
In the absence of world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz, injured and forfeited, defending champion Rafael Nadal advances as the number 1 seed at the Australian Open. He will start against Jack Draper. The number 2 seed, Casper Ruud, will face Tomas Machac. Daniil Medvedev, runner-up in the last two editions, will start against Marcos Giron, while Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded number 3, will have to struggle against Frenchman Quentin Halys.