Novak Djokovic confirmed he will play at next year’s Australian Open, saying he was “very happy” his visa ban had been overturned.<\/span><\/p>\n The Serb, a nine-time champion, was deported before this year’s event after his visa was cancelled in a row over his Covid vaccine status.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He was automatically banned for three years from entering Australia, but on Tuesday learnt <\/span>a visa would be granted.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n “I could not receive better news,” the 21-time Grand Slam champion said.<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking to reporters at the ATP Finals in Turin after reaching the semi-finals, the former world number one added: “It was a relief obviously knowing what I and people closest to me in my life have been through this year with what happened in Australia and post Australia obviously.<\/span><\/p>\n “[The] Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slams. I made some of the best memories there.<\/span><\/p>\n “Of course, I want to go back there, I want to play tennis, do what I do best, hopefully have a great Australian summer.”<\/span><\/p>\n When Djokovic arrived in Australia in January, Covid cases were skyrocketing and government rules required anyone entering the country to be vaccinated, unless they had a valid medication exemption.<\/span><\/p>\n He did not meet the requirements for entry, the government said, so his visa was cancelled and he was automatically not allowed to return to Australia until 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n But Immigration Minister Andrew Giles – whose government came to power in May – has overturned the ban.<\/span><\/p>\n Djokovic’s detention and deportation dominated the headlines in the build-up to this year’s Australian Open. <\/span><\/p>\n Many people in Australia cheered the decision, but it also sparked an uproar among supporters who gathered outside his hotel, as well as in Serbia.<\/span><\/p>\n Just hours after learning he would be able to compete in Australia in January, Djokovic was on court putting in a clinical display against Andrey Rublev to reach the semi-finals of the ATP Finals.<\/span><\/p>\n He did not face a single break point in a 6-4 6-1 win over the Russian, who was left smashing his racquet on the floor at times in the face of 69 minutes of ruthless tennis. <\/span><\/p>\n Djokovic made the breakthrough against Rublev in the 10th game to take the first set before embarking on what he described as a “flawless” second set. <\/span><\/p>\n “I played very, very well,” Djokovic, 35, said in his on-court interview. <\/span><\/p>\n “One of the best matches of the year without a doubt against an always tough opponent. It was an amazing performance.”<\/span><\/p>\n Later on Wednesday, Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Daniil Medvedev in the other Red Group match to secure his first win. <\/span><\/p>\n Tsitsipas of Greece beat Medvedev 6-3 6-7 7-6 (7-1). Djokovic will take on Medvedev in his final group game on Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n The season-ending ATP Finals feature the season’s top eight men’s players and Djokovic is seeking to win the event for a record-equalling sixth time. <\/span><\/p>\n But 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal’s hopes of a first title were ended on Tuesday <\/span>when he lost to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n In the doubles, Briton Neal Skupski and Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof were beaten 6-4 7-6 (7-3) by Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in their second group match, while Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia beat Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and American partner Austin Krajicek 3-6 6-4 10-6.<\/span><\/p>\n The win put the Croats through to the semi-finals, but world number ones Skupski and Koolhof will still have the chance to join them when they play Dodig and Krajicek their final round-robin match on Friday.<\/span><\/p>\nDjokovic ‘flawless’ on way to semi-finals<\/h3>\n
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