JAKARTA - Former world number one Novak Djokovic is scheduled to return to action at the Australian Open after nearly a year ago being deported for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination, the Australian tennis boss was quoted as saying by AFP on Tuesday.
The nine-time Australian Open champion was initially barred from entering Australia for three years after losing a legal dispute earlier this year over his vaccine status.
Australia then withdrew the conditions to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to travelers entering the country.
Last November the Australian government confirmed that the unvaccinated Serbian tennis player was no longer banned and had been granted a visa that allowed him to compete in the Australian Open 2023.
Australian Tennis Chief Executive Craig Tiley said he hoped tennis supporters would welcome Djokovic back.
"I really trust the Australian public. I am very sure that fans will respond as we expected," Tiley quoted Antara as saying on Tuesday.
Djokovic is scheduled to play at Adelaide International starting Sunday this week as a warm-up for the Australian Open in Melbourne.
"For years I was really lucky to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there," said the world number five in Dubai last week after ending 2022 with the sixth ATP Tour Finals crown.
Djokovic last arrived in Melbourne in January to enter this year's first Grand Slam tournament on the grounds that he had received a medical exemption from entering Australia without vaccinations as he had just recovered from Covid-19.
However, Australian officials considered he did not meet the requirements for the exemption until he was finally detained for five days while filing an appeal that was fruitless.
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