Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times, but a tenth victory this month in Melbourne will be the most pleasing of them following his humbling ban a year ago.
Twelve months ago, the Serbian superstar, one of the greatest men’s tennis players of all time, was at the centre of a global uproar as he resisted deportation from Australia.
The 35-year-reluctance old’s to get vaccinated against Covid ignited a high-profile court struggle that finally had him kicked out of the nation on the eve of the Grand Slam.
In his absence, his great adversary Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open for a record 21st major title. Some, like former world number one Jim Courier, thought Djokovic was a victim of politics in Australia during an election year.
