Chris Eubanks expresses his optimism over Novak Djokovic’s chances to play at the 2023 Australian Open
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Christopher Eubanks and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is hoping for a favorable reception from Down Under regarding his possibility of playing this time with less than three months until the opening Grand Slam tournament of the upcoming season in Australia. The 21-time Grand Slam winner traveled to Australia in January this year to win the Australian Open again but was refused entry a day before the competition began because he was not protected against COVID-19. The Government of Australia also put a three-year restriction on the “Serbian superstar of Tennis” when they canceled his visa.
The 2022 Wimbledon Champion said in a new conversation with Sportal that his attorneys were in contact with the Federal Government of Australia, the State Government of Victoria, the City Council of Melbourne, and the organizers. He is anticipating hearing back from them in the coming weeks and the answer will be ‘positive’.
Christopher Eubanks, a tennis player himself, expressed his desire for the Nine-time Australian Open champion must be given a chance to compete in Australia on the Tennis Channel, arguing that what transpired this year should not happen again during the ATP tour of 2023.
“I hope Novak is able to play this Australian Open. The entire situation was bit of a circus at times but I really do not attribute too much of that to Novak Djokovic. I think there was a lot of blame to go around between the Tennis Australia and the Australian Government, relaying information or may be wrong information. Novak came. He thought he will be able to compete and because he was given wrong information, he was deported. We know the rule if you are deported, you are not going to get visa for three years. We understand all that. However, Novak will be able to play,” Mr. Eubanks was quite vocal for the Serbian’s participation in the Australian Open 2023.
Eubanks is hopeful that Novak Djokovic’s team and the Government of Australia will be able to find a middle path so that the Serbian gets his chance of playing at the Australian Open.
“I hope that he is able to play. I hope they are able to come to some kind of compromise that will allow him to compete because by his own definitions he tried to follow the rules that were put before him and that it was a very unfortunate incident we all are in now,” Mr. Eubanks further added.
The possibility of Djokovic’s suspension being overturned, however, is indeed very strong this time around with a new Prime Minister in the office and due to a shift in the country’s central government’s policies and a loosening of coronavirus restrictions.
Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of history
Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest players who have played this game. He with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is considered the part of “Big Three” and the “Golden Age of Tennis”. A generation of players who glittered the tennis world with their skills, rivalries and sportsman spirit.
Roger Federer won twenty Grand Slams singles titles throughout his career. The Swiss retired this year. Rafael Nadal with the 2022 French Open, is sitting at the top of the list with 22 Grand Slams. Novak Djokovic on the other hand has 21 Grand Slam singles titles to his name.
If the Serb is allowed to play this time in the first Grand Slam of the season and if he wins this one, it will help to increase his tally to an all-time high of 22 Grand Slams equal to the great Spanish. He already holds the record of winning the Australian Open singles titles 9 times. With the Australian Open 2023 title, it will become ten.
Novak Djokovic will also try to win this year’s ATP Finals trophy. Roger Federer has the record of winning the ATP Finals 6 times-Highest by any player. The Serbian is looking to equal that.
Also Read: “The King is back”-Tennis Twitter erupts as Rafael Nadal confirms to play in Paris and Turin
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