“I don’t hold any grudges”- Novak Djokovic declares that he would be happy to return to the Australian Open
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Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic told the media following his third-round win against Aljaz Bedene at the 2022 French Open on Friday that if given the chance, he would gladly return to Australia to compete in his most successful Slam. Djokovic was deported ahead of the Australian Open this year owing to his lack of vaccination. The Serb was also barred from seeking a visa in Australia for three years under Federal Government standards.
The Prime Minister at the time, Scott Morrison, has since lost elections, and Anthony Albanese, the leader of Australia’s Labor Party, was sworn in as the country’s 31st Prime Minister earlier this month. Ministers, however, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have since stated that under the right circumstances, the restriction may be lifted entirely.
“I would love to come back”- Novak Djokovic
The World No. 1 expressed his desire to return to Australia but acknowledged to knowing little about his visa situation. “I don’t know anything about whether my visa is going to be reinstated or whether I’m going to be allowed to come back to Australia. I would like to go there and play the Australian Open,” he told a news conference.
“I don’t hold any grudges. Look, you know, it was what it was. If I have an opportunity to go back to Australia and play a place where I made the biggest success in my career in Grand Slam, I would love to come back. If that’s correct, then I’m obviously very happy about it because I know that it was very difficult for them, particularly for the ones that stayed there for nine years,” Novak Djokovic said.
“You know, I stayed there for a week, and I can’t imagine how they felt for nine years. If I brought some light to that situation then, you know, in a positive way for them, for this to happen, then, of course, I’m very happy,” he went on to add.
Djokovic, 35, was denied the chance to win a record-tying 10th Australian Open as a result of the shambles surrounding him. He also had a chance to win a record 21st Grand Slam championship, which his opponent Rafael Nadal did instead in Melbourne. However, it would be good to see the Serb swinging his racquets again on his favourite and most comfortable surface, if things go accordingly.
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Pritha Ghosh
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