Novak Djokovic holds no grudge against Australia as he prepares to take on Thanasi Kokkinakis

Novak Djokovic hasn’t won a grand slam title in a year and has fallen two behind Rafael Nadal – and he only has himself to blame.

Novak Djokovic has booked a spot in the second round of Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images

If grand slam titles were given out for stubbornness, Novak Djokovic would already be the greatest tennis player of all time.

If he never gets there, and his chances are starting to fade after he just turned 35, he’ll only have himself to blame because of his refusal to get himself vaccinated.

The Serbian hasn’t won a grand slam title in a year and has fallen two behind Rafa Nadal in their race to collect the most career titles when he was booted out of his favourite event – the Australian Open – and the Spaniard cashed in.

If he wins Wimbledon again this year, Djokovic will still be behind Nadal and facing the prospect of an 11-month banishment from the majors unless he gets the jab, which he has steadfastly refused to do.

The only other way he can play another grand slam before the 2023 French Open is if the US or Australian governments bend their rules and let him in.

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Novak Djokovic has booked a spot in the second round of Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images

Djokovic insists he has no grudge against Australia and would return to Melbourne in a heartbeat but after winning his opening match at Wimbledon – 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 against South Korean Kwon Soon-woo – he is under no illusions that his chances are slim.

“I‘m aware that the circumstances are such at this moment, that that’s the case,” he said.

“Of course, I guess that motivates me more to try to make the most out of this tournament.

“(There’s) not much time after Wimbledon before the US Open. I‘m hoping some things can change and that I’ll be able to go and compete. I would want to. But it is what it is at the moment.”

A divisive figure at the best of times, the Serbian’s refusal to get vaccinated has both made him a villain to some and a hero, especially to anti-vaxxers.

He copped plenty of flak from the crowds when he made his first tournament appearance after he booted out of Australia in January but the hostility is starting to recede and he was given a warm welcome when he stepped back on the Wimbledon centre court on Monday to defend his title.

“I was very pleasantly surprised, in a positive way,” he said.

“The crowd was engaged in the match. They supported both players. I thought they were very fair to me.”

Novak Djokovic says he has no grudge against Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Notoriously thick-skinned, Djokovic has never really let on just how much his deportation - or the shoddy advice he got - impacted him until he gave a rare insight on Monday, saying he was only just getting over it.

“I‘ve experienced something that I’ve never experienced in my life in Australia,” he said.

“So this post-Australian period over the next several months was challenging emotionally for me because of a lot of different factors.

“In terms of my motivation on the court, fulfilling my everyday chores, trying to win more titles and be one of the contenders for more Grand Slams, it hasn‘t changed much, to be honest.

“I try to keep it together with the team in such a way where we stick to the routines that we know that work for us.

“But, of course, the sensation coming back on the court with everything that happened post-Australia, particularly the first few tournaments, was different. It was a different feeling. Not very pleasant to me.

“Right now I don‘t feel the traces of that, so to say, any more. I move on. I play tournament by tournament. I will try to make the most out of the experience.”

Originally published as Novak Djokovic holds no grudge against Australia as he prepares to take on Thanasi Kokkinakis