Tennis star Novak Djokovic will return to Australia for the first time since visa ban to play Adelaide International

It’s been 12 months since Novak Djokovic made headlines for his public deportation from Australia, but now he’s coming back and an Adelaide tournament is his first hit out.

A year after he was publicly exiled from Australia after a five-day stay in an immigration detention facility, tennis immortal Novak Djokovic is coming back to the country – and Adelaide is the first stop on his summer tour.

The former world No. 1 has chosen the first week of the Adelaide International, on January 1, to kick-off his campaign as he prepares for his bid to win a 10th Australian Open title.

In a huge coup for the city, all eyes will be on Djokovic’s return to the country, which comes 12 months after his Visa was sensationally cancelled by the former Morrison Government – because he wasn’t vaccinated for Covid – just days before the 2022 Australian Open.

The last time the 21-time grand slam champion touched down on Australian soil, at Melbourne Airport, he was whisked away to the Park hotel – a hotel-turned-immigration detention centre – where he was held for five days.

Novak Djokovic will return to Australia and take part in the Adelaide International. Picture: Picture: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Djokovic kisses his trophy after defeating Australia's Nick Kyrgios during the 2022 Wimbledon men's singles final. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

The highly publicised incident divided the Australian people, as politics and sports collided in ugly circumstances at the height of Covid-19 pandemic.

With his return set to draw headlines again, Adelaide International tournament director Alistair MacDonald said his experience would be different this time around.

“There’s the whole debate around who is the greatest player … and to have someone of that ilk coming to compete in Adelaide is pretty special,” Mr MacDonald said.

“Covid was a pretty tough time for everyone and his experience probably didn’t go the way he wanted it to last year, but 2023 is a fresh start.

“It’s probably not our position to judge how he will be received, but he’s a great player and will certainly drive interest in the event.”

Djokovic will contest the opening week of the tournament alongside dual Olympic Gold medallist Andy Murray and young Italian star Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic will feature in the opening week of the Adelaide International. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures from his hotel balcony on the last day of his two-week quarantine in Adelaide in January, 2021. Picture: Brenton Edwards/AFP

This year’s Australian Open runner-up Danil Medvedev is also rumoured to be part of the full entry list of the Adelaide International, which is set to be announced next week.

“We’re going to have several players from both the men and women’s side from the top 20 competing, so it’s going to be a special couple of weeks,” Mr MacDonald said.

“This tournament is really building a reputation with the players … it’s an enjoyable event to come and play and we have great fans who are very respectful.”

The last time Djokovic was set to compete in Adelaide was back in 2021 when he controversially withdrew from his exhibition match with Italian Jannik Sinner in the eleventh hour because of a blister injury on his hand.

Well this is something you don’t see every day. Novak Djokovic on a park bench in North Adelaide 29 January 2021. Picture: Simeon Thomas-Wilson

It is understood, there was a scramble to convince the former world number one to agree to play at Memorial Drive and in bizarre scenes Djokovic emerged on centre court for the second set, to huge roars.

“We saw in those two weeks that Djokovic was in quarantine here in Adelaide that he has a heck of a lot of fans here,” Mr MacDonald said.

“Ultimately, in the end he did play that year and of course things can go wrong, but he’s committed and we expect he will play again.”

Djokovic won his third ATP title in Adelaide back in 2007 when he defeated Australian Chris Guccione on the old centre court at Memorial Drive.

Originally published as Tennis star Novak Djokovic will return to Australia for the first time since visa ban to play Adelaide International