via Reuters
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs from the Park Hotel government detention facility before attending a court hearing at his lawyers office in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. AAP Image/James Ross via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. AUSTRALIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN AUSTRALIA. NEW ZEALAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NEW ZEALAND
via Reuters
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic departs from the Park Hotel government detention facility before attending a court hearing at his lawyers office in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. AAP Image/James Ross via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. AUSTRALIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN AUSTRALIA. NEW ZEALAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NEW ZEALAND
The Novak Djokovic visa saga in Melbourne was the most talked-about news of January 2022. The Serb was denied the opportunity to defend his Australian Open crown at Melbourne Park and was deported from the country.
Recently, former British No. 1 Andrew Castle opened up on what, according to him, comes next for Djokovic. He also pointed out how not being able to play at the Australian Open can boost Djokovic’s game.
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Castle’s analysis of Djokovic’s return
Andrew Castle criticized the Australian government’s partiality on the steps involved in his deportation saga. He then moved to explain how the pullback from defending his crown could give him a motivation boost.
“The only camera we were missing down in Australia was one on Novak’s face on match point when Nadal made it to No.21. After seeing that, I can imagine Novak’s motivation will be 100 percent moving forward,” said Castle.
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Men’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Castle said that regardless of his opinion on the matter, he missed seeing Djokovic from a tennis perspective, especially as a 9-time champion at the Happy Slam.
After that, the British star criticized the Australian government for giving it a political turn. He said, “My own personal view is he wasn’t treated entirely correctly at all times in that one. There was a vast amount of politics in it, with the elections in Australia and the restrictions they had to endure were so difficult.”
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Novak Djokovic in 2022
After losing in the semi-finals of the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals, Novak Djokovic planned to start his 2022 season at the Australian Open 2022. The defending champion landed in Melbourne, eyeing his 21st Grand Slam title.
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However, the World No. 1’s dream was short-lived as he was deported from the country due to his vaccination status. The 9-time Australian Open champion was deported just a day before the commencement of the Grand Slam.
After rescheduling his calendar, Djokovic is now expected to start his season at the ATP 500 Dubai.
