Australian Open 2023: All the latest news, features and updates

The decision to deport Novak Djokovic’s polarised. And it may have cost Nick Kyrgios a fairytale grand slam crown. Here’s why.

Novak Djokovic after defeating Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The Australian government’s polarising decision to boot Novak Djokovic out of the country last year might’ve cost Nick Kyrgios a fairytale Wimbledown crown.

The unvaccinated superstar revealed on Saturday that the extended training block he was forced into left him primed for a 42-7 year that included breaking Kyrgios’ heart in the Wimbledon final.

History is littered with players who peak at Melbourne Park and then struggle to see out the season and Djokovic’s expulsion 12 months ago might’ve helped him secure that 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (3) win against his newfound friend at Queen’s.

“Normally as a professional tennis player on the highest level you don’t have much time to really have a longer training block,” Djokovic said.

“We have a very long season. If you play the biggest events, four slams, nine Masters events … you play for your country, the season is very, very long.

“You have a few weeks here and there, other than maybe those four or five weeks that you have in off-season, you really don’t have any longer training blocks, which at times is really necessary, and it’s very I think welcome in a way.

Novak Djokovic was in prime condition for Wimbledon, where he knocked off Nick Kyrgios in the final. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“Once you’re in that rhythm of playing, of competing, you kind of don’t have time to address certain things about your game or your body.

“The fact that I wasn’t playing for several months at the beginning of last year allowed me to really get together with my team and work on my body, on my strokes, which has later helped me to achieve some great results.”

Djokovic, who was warmly welcomed on to Rod Laver Arena by a sell-out crowd for Friday night’s charity match against Kyrgios, is a short-priced favourite to secure his 10th Australian Open crown

The 35-year-old was unsure what reception he would receive, but was pleasantly surprised as he strives to equal No.1 seed Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 slams.

“I’m in very good shape. I ended the year in the best possible way, and continued that form in Adelaide,” he said.

“I like the way I played there. I beat some really good players, especially in the last few matches of the tournament. I like my chances. I always like my chances.

“I train as hard as really anybody out there.”

While Djokovic’s deportation last year was unsavoury, he said 15 years of fun Down Under outweighed that ugly episode.

Novak Djokovic says that he doesn’t hold a grudge. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

“If I do hold the grudges, probably if I’m not able to move on, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

“Also I have to say that the amount of positive experiences I had in Australia overwhelms the negative experience last year.

“My impression of Australia, my vision of Australia, has always been very positive, and that has reflected on my performance.

“My results are a testament to how you feel here. I was really looking forward to come back and play tennis because that’s ultimately what I do best, what I always wanted to do, what I wanted to do last year.

“I’m really looking forward to play in front of the people and hopefully bring them some good fun and good vibes.”

The unknown top 10 seed who knocked off Novak

— Owen Leonard

Novak Djokovic hasn’t dropped a match since October.

The last man to beat him? Holger Rune, the top-10 seed you’ve never heard of.

You’d be forgiven for not recognising his name. This time last year, the boom teen from Denmark had only just cracked the world’s top 100.

But after a year of triumphs over Stefanos Tsitsipas, Stan Wawrinka and raging Australian Open favourite Djokovic, he’s poised to reach household status by the end of the tournament.

If his performance doesn’t do it, his fiery attitude probably will – he’s drawn the ire of Wawrinka and Casper Ruud in previous matches, who advised him to “stop acting like a baby” and to “grow up”.

With a potential third-round clash with Nick Kyrgios awaiting, Rune has no plans of holding back.

“I’ll take the fight for sure. I’m not afraid,” he said Thursday. “I’m just going to go out there and play my tennis.

Holger Rune is congratulated by Novak Djokovic after his Paris Masters win. Picture: Getty Images

Rune is the last player to defeat Novak Djokovic. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s good for the sport to have a guy like Nick into the crowd like he does, and I like it too. I think it’s fun.

“It’s better to play with a full stadium that is loud … I see it as a positive thing.

“All my life I’ve been dreaming to be at this moment, where I’m now. My job is not finished as I see it.”

It’s also worth noting that win over Djokovic – the Paris Masters final – was on hardcourt. Rune still looks back on that performance to draw confidence – a commodity he’s clearly not lacking in to begin with.

“To play these kinds of matches against Novak, who is so experienced, was super tough, but I took the talent and gave all I had.

“Winning that game was a huge confidence boost – both winning against him and in a final is even bigger.

“It was one of my best fights and best matches of my career, so I look back and I’m still very happy about my performance.”

Rune kickstarts his Australian campaign on Tuesday, when the mercury is tipped to reach a scorching 37 degrees. The all-time temperature record in Denmark is 36.4.

“I'm ready for it,” Rune asserted. “It’s going to be brutal, but I’m more and more experienced with it now so I’m going to kind of look forward to it.”