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A year ago, Novak Djokovic was about to leave Australia, escorted by border guards in one of the greatest sports stories of the decade.
In light of his dismissal, then-Australian immigration minister Djokovic’s opposition to a Covid-19 vaccine as a public health risk could leave long-lasting scars.
But for 12 months it is possible to forget that it even happened.
Taking a different stance, the country’s new government has revoked Djokovic’s three-year automatic visa ban, and it will be a big surprise if he does not leave the country this time accompanied by the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup.
The Serbian may be 35 years old, but his commitment to taking care of his body – the motivation, wrong or not, behind the hesitation of the vaccine – shows no real signs of deterioration and is as indifferent as ever on the court.
He ended last season by beating most of his main rivals to win the ATP Finals and started this campaign in perfect fashion in Adelaide.
Djokovic insists he holds no grudges, and fans flock to Adelaide.
One thing that is not in doubt is his horror story in Australia. He is bidding for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title and is unbeaten Down Under since 2018, when an elbow problem contributed to his shock loss to Chung Hyeon.
If Djokovic lifts the title, he will once again be tied at the top of the men’s rankings with Rafael Nadal.
Fearing that a chronic foot problem could spell the end of his career, the Spaniard instead waited 13 years to win his second Melbourne Park title in straight sets, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final. lasting more than five hours.
Nadal added another French Open crown in June but looks set to catch up with him at the age of 36 and enters the tournament having won six of his last seven matches.
Djokovic became the heavy favorite when US Open winner Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the tournament last week with a foot injury, and a win would see the Serbian back at the top of the rankings. They argue that he doesn’t deserve it.
Apart from Nadal, Djokovic’s biggest rivals are likely to be the likes of Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Rude. However, Danish teenager Holger Rooney, who defeated Djokovic in the Paris Masters final in November, offers the most exciting prospect. .
Cameron Norrie fully believes he can be among those names, and the British number one has started the season brilliantly, including the first of his three United Cup wins over Nadal.
Norrie is one of four British men in the top 50, along with Dan Evans, Andy Murray and 21-year-old Jack Draper, who will look to upset Nadal in the first round.
Emma Raducanu was hoping for a more positive start to 2023 after a torrid last year and plenty of physical work in the off-season to put her participation in doubt in Auckland last week.
The absence of reigning champion Ashley Barty, who recently announced she is expecting her first child after her shock retirement last March, will have a major impact on the women’s draw.
World number one Iga Svitek is the favorite but remains to hit hard on hard courts and the likes of Ons Jaber, Jessica Pegula, Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia and Coco Gauff will hope to be in the mix.
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