January 03, (THEWILL) – After being deported from Australia for refusing to receive the coronavirus vaccine last year, Serbian tennis star, Novak Djokovic, has secured his first win in the country in two years at the Adelaide Open 250.
On Tuesday, Djokovic defeated Constantin Lestienne 6-3 6-2, adding to his impressive record of 19 wins in his last 20 matches. Accompanied by his older brother, Marko, Djokovic is looking to make an impact before the Australian Open, which takes place from January 16 to 29.
He is hoping to win the title in Adelaide, which would be the 92nd of his career, tying him with Rafael Nadal for fourth place in the history of tournaments won. Djokovic’s next match will be against French player, Quentin Halys.
Although he missed a total of six tournaments in 2022 due to his refusal to receive the vaccine, Djokovic has a chance to regain the ATP crown on January 30 if he can win in Adelaide and go all the way to the trophy in the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.
Despite receiving criticism for his anti-vaccine beliefs, Djokovic has been warmly received on Australian soil and he will be riding on that support when the Grand Slam begins.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
