Tennis star Novak Djokovic arrives in Australia for first time since dramatic departure

Former tennis World no. 1 Novak Djokovic has been spotted back in Australia after making a quiet return to the country he was deported from a year ago.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic arrived at Adelaide Airport overnight ahead of his first tennis tournament in the country since he was sensationally deported a year ago.

The former World No.1 and nine-time Australian Open champion has had his three-year visa ban overturned ahead of the Adelaide International in January.

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is seen during a training session at Memorial Drive in Adelaide. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Djokovic quietly returned to Australia on Tuesday night after having a three-year ban overturned. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Novak Djokovic (C) has arrived in Adelaide Airport less than a year after he was deported from the country over his vaccination status, pictured here in 2021. Picture: AFPTV / AFP

Mr Djokovic arrived at Adelaide Airport without fanfare on Tuesday night, hoping to avoid the media circus that followed him last time he was in the country.

The Australian government has since lifted its requirement for overseas visitors to show proof of vaccination upon arrival into the country.

Djokovic’s ban was overturned as Australia has lifted its requirement that overseas visitors provide proof of vaccination on arrival. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Australia has lifted it’s requirement to show vaccination status at the border. Picture: Christopher Pike/Getty Images

Mr Djokovic was deported in January 2022 after he was found to not meet the Covid-19 vaccination requirements of the time.

The star will use the Adelaide International to prepare for his tenth Australia Open after he missed his chance at last year’s event.

The former Coalition government made the decision to wave the three-year ban and grant him a visa for the 2023 competition.

Mr Djokovic spent time at a Melbourne detention centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Mr Djokovic was briefly detained alongside asylum seekers at the Park Hotel detention centre in Melbourne’s CBD while awaiting a decision on his visa.

The twenty asylum seekers who were detained in the centre - some for as many as nine years - were released later that year after the public scrutiny attracted by the tennis greats stay.

“You know, I stayed there for a week, and I can't imagine how they felt for nine years,” he said at the time.

Originally published as Tennis star Novak Djokovic arrives in Australia for first time since dramatic departure