Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic. Photo: EPA/JAMES ROSS

Novak Djokovic says players have been welcoming ahead of Dubai return

Novak Djokovic says he’s been given a “positive” reception from players in the locker room ahead of his first match of the season.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic. Photo: EPA/JAMES ROSS

Novak Djokovic says he’s been given a “positive” reception from players in the locker room ahead of his first match of the season at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday.

The world number one missed last month’s Australian Open due to the cancellation of his visa and his deportation from Australia due to not being vaccinated. 

Novak Djokovic says players have been welcoming

Djokovic makes his return to the tour this week in the Emirates, having received assurances from authorities that he would be allowed to enter.

“So far here most of the players that I’ve seen – I haven’t seen too many players – but most of the players that I’ve seen have been positive and welcoming. It’s nice to see obviously. I can’t say that was the case in Australia. It was a little bit strange. But here it’s well so far,” Novak Djokovic said.

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Novak Djokovic said that he got back to training ten days after he returned from Australia.

He admits that he needed some time to recover from an emotional few weeks that saw him get detained in Melbourne and eventually having his visa cancelled twice before being sent back to Serbia.

Motivated to succeed

The 20-time Grand Slam winner said what happened in Australia made him “sad” and “disappointed”, but he soon felt motivated to get back on the tennis court.

“I’ve been playing tennis for the last two and a half, three weeks. I’ve been enjoying it. I love the game. I love just hitting the tennis ball. So it wasn’t really difficult for me to pick up a racquet and go out on the practice court and just play,” said Djokovic, who is targeting a sixth Dubai title this week.

“Knowing I was coming to Dubai, I had something to work for, I had a goal. So now that I’m here I could say that I am as well-prepared as I possibly can be and I’m excited to, again, be on the tour.”

In an interview with the BBC, Novak Djokovic said he would skip any tournament, including the Grand Slams, if the events had a vaccine mandate.

“I just have to follow the rules. Whatever tournament that I’m able to play, I’ll be trying to get to that country and play the tournament,” he said.

“I really can’t choose right now. It’s really about where I can go and play. Wherever I have an opportunity. I’ll be using probably that opportunity and going to play because this is what I do. It’s what I love to do still.”

BBC

Number one status not important

Djokovic must better Daniil Medvedev’s performance in the concurrent Mexican Open to hold onto his number one ranking.

The Serb is unfazed by the prospect of losing top spot.

“He deserves to be number one,” Djokovic said of Russian world number two Medvedev.  

“Eventually it’s going to happen. If it happens this week, I’ll be the first one to congratulate him.”