Novak Djokovic has left behind a particularly turbulent season. The former world number 1 paid dearly for his decision not to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, which made him miss the Australian Open and the US Open. The Serbian phenomenon also had to give up all the Masters 1000 in the United States (Indian Wells, Miami, Montreal and Cincinnati), in addition to suffering serious image damage.
The 35-year-old from Belgrade needed time to regain his rhythm and confidence, as he himself admitted at his last press conference in 2022. He has looked the best Nole since Wimbledon, where he won his seventh title, equaling Pete Sampras.
The 21-time Slam champion enhanced his year by also winning the ATP Finals in Turin, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the ATP 500 in Astana and the ATP 250 in Tel Aviv. The Balkan has also received permission to travel to Australia next month.
Goran Ivanisevic’s protégé will play at the Adelaide ATP 250, before going on the hunt for his tenth title at Melbourne Park. As already mentioned, the Australian government has lifted the three-year ban on Djokovic’s head.
Novak will be the heavy favorite in Melbourne and will try to match Rafael Nadal with 22 Grand Slams. Many fans have already begun to wonder how the Serbian will be received in Australia. A recent survey conducted by “Resolve Strategic” gives us a clue in this regard.
Only 30% of those surveyed are in favor of his arrival in Oceania, a figure that shows an increase compared to the 14% registered last January. 29% of those surveyed did not have a clear position on the matter, while 41% believed that Djokovic should be banned from entering the country.
There are only a few weeks left before the Serbian travels to the land of kangaroos, where he is already nine times champion of the first Grand Slam of the year, a tournament that has undoubtedly seen his best game and in which he will seek to recover the crown that is now in hands of Rafael Nadal.
Vallejo praises Djokovic
Daniel Vallejo, a rapidly rising star on the junior men’s tennis circuit, recently praised Novak Djokovic for his great conduct towards him. “The best thing about that week was training with Djokovic, warming up with him before his matches,” Daniel Vallejo said of his experience.
“He was very kind to me, very charismatic, he showed why he is one of the best on the planet. He made me feel privileged. It is not the best advice because it is something very basic, but I prefer what Djokovic told me in Turin.
After training together, he told me that I had good ball quality, but that I have to accelerate more with my right hand,” Vallejo revealed.
