Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has said Novak Djokovic is “concerned” how the Australian crowd will react to him, one year on from being detained and deported from the country.
Djokovic was booted out of the country ahead of the 2022 Australian Open over his decision to forgo vaccination against Covid-19.
While Australia’s border laws have since changed and allowed Djokovic to return to the country, Tiley told Channel Nine the former world number one was unsure how the crowd would receive his bid for a 10th Australian Open title.
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“We have spoken about (a possible negative crowd reaction) and he, as any athlete, would be would be concerned about it,” Tiley said.
“But it’s one that he’s just doing the best that he can as a player. There’s a great deal of respect for him as a player, as an athlete, and what he’s achieved in the game and continues to achieve.
“And I think the Australian public and community appreciate that.”
Djokovic, who is looking to equal Rafael Nadal’s 22 grand slam singles titles, admitted to reporters in Adelaide on Thursday the events in January lingered.
“Obviously what happened 12 months ago was not easy for me, for my family, or to anybody who’s close to me, and it’s obviously disappointing to leave the country like that,” he said.
“You don’t forget those events. It’s one of these things that sticks with you for the rest of your life.
“It was, as I said, something that I’ve never experienced before and hopefully never again. But it is a valuable life experience for me and something that, as I said, will stay there, but I have to move on.
“I always felt great in Australia. I’ve played my best tennis here, and received a lot of support, so hopefully I can have another great summer.”
The 35-year-old is currently ranked world No.5 after his vaccination status rendered him ineligible to play several events.
He was also unable to defend his Wimbledon ranking points after the ATP and WTA stripped the event of them in response to the All-England club banning Russian and Belarusian players who did not give signed assurances denouncing Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
