Novak Djokovic arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday to begin his 2023 season, one year after the 21-time Grand Slam champion was deported from Australia due to the country's Covid-19-related restrictions.
Djokovic was initially banned from the country for three years after losing a high-stakes legal battle earlier this year over his vaccine status. The nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic arrived in Melbourne in January for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, claiming he had obtained a medical exemption to enter Australia without being vaccinated because he had recently recovered from Covid-19.
However, Australian border officials said he did not meet the requirements to be exempted from strict vaccination rules and he was detained for five days while pursuing an ultimately fruitless legal appeal.
Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid, and the government confirmed in November that Djokovic, who is not vaccinated, was no longer banned and had been granted a visa allowing him to play in the next Australian Open, which starts in January.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said he hoped local fans would embrace Djokovic's return.
"We welcome him back to Australia," he told reporters on Tuesday. "I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public. I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react how we hope they will react."
After competing in the inaugural World Tennis League in Dubai last week, Djokovic will begin his 2023 season at the Adelaide International, starting on Sunday. He will be joined at the ATP 250 event by a strong field comprising world No 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev, eighth-ranked Andrey Rublev, and world No 15 Jannik Sinner.
"Over the years I've been really fortunate to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there," Djokovic said in Dubai last week.
"After obviously what happened earlier this year, hopefully I can have a decent reception there and hopefully that can help me play some good tennis."
Despite being limited to a restricted schedule in 2022 – which also meant missing the US Open – world No 5 Djokovic still won five titles, including Wimbledon for a seventh time, the Rome Masters, and the season-ending ATP Finals.
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The trip
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The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
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The biog
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Baghdad
Education: PhD student and co-researcher at Greifswald University, Germany
Hobbies: Ping Pong, swimming, reading
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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The specs
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
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