Novak Djokovic receives huge ovation from Melbourne crowd on his Australian Open return as fans get behind the Serbian following his deportation nightmare last year – after being warned they’d be KICKED OUT if they booed the superstar
Any fears the Australian public may give Novak Djokovic the cold shoulder were emphatically dismissed as the Serb received a hero’s welcome at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
Making his return to the Australian Open following his controversial deportation last year, the 21-time Grand Slam winner walked on the court to a roaring ovation ahead of his first round match against Roberto Carballes Baena.
And speaking after his straight set win over the Spaniard, Djokovic thanked the crowd for their support.
Novak Djokovic received a rousing reception ahead of his first round match at the Australian Open on Tuesday night against Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena
‘Thank you for staying so late and also giving me such a welcoming reception.
‘I’m very happy I am back in Australia, and on the court where I had the biggest successes of my career.
‘This court is the most special court and I couldn’t ask for a better start for the tournament.’
Djokovic was at the centre of a diplomatic storm in January last year, when he had his visa cancelled twice after arriving in Australia ahead of the Australian Open.
The nine-time Australian Open champion thanked the fans for the warm welcome
The nine-time Australian Open champion, who was unvaccinated against Covid-19, was initially allowed into the country before ultimately being deported following a polarising legal tussle.
Djokovic still insists he was harshly treated: ‘All of a sudden, I became the villain of the world, which was obviously a terrible position to be in as an athlete,’ he told Channel Nine ahead on the eve of the Australian Open.
‘I came in with all the valid papers [last year]. I really hope the crowd will be receiving me well. That’s something I cannot predict.
‘Obviously I wish for a positive reception but it’s in their hands. I don’t hold any grudges.
‘I am definitely not against people of Australia. I think me being here proves how much I really want to be here and how much I want to play.’
But after winning the Adelaide International last week, Djokovic thanked the Adelaide crowd for their support since his return to Australia.
‘The support that I’ve been getting in the past 10 days is something that I don’t think I’ve experienced too many times in my life,’ he said.
There was also no sign of animosity towards the 35-year-old during his exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios in Melbourne on Friday, exactly as Tennis Australia chief executive officer Craig Tiley had hope.
Djokovic spent time signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans after the game
There were plenty of Serbian flags in the crowd as Djokovic to the court on Tuesday
‘That’s what I love about Australia,’ Tiley said last week.
‘I love that our fans, our sporting fans, are amongst the most educated in the world.
‘They appreciate greatness, they appreciate players that like Novak have won this event nine times.
‘I’m excited by the fact that we’ve got all the players here. Novak is back, he’d be able to compete in front of the fans.’
Djokovic received a warm welcome when he faced Nick Kyrgios in an exhibition match at the Rod Laver Arena on Friday
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley warned fans faced ejection from the Australian Open courts if they booed Djokovic too loudly
Tiley also issued an ultimatum to the fans, warning them they faced ejection from the Australian Open courts if they booed Djokovic too loudly.
‘If they disrupt the enjoyment of anyone else – boom, they are out. We don’t want them on site.
‘They can stay away or we will kick them out,’ he told the Herald Sun.
Advertisement
