Tennis star Novak Djokovic says he is ready to move on as he arrives in Australia for the first time since he was deported in January.
Djokovic arrived in Adelaide earlier this week ahead of his first tennis tournament in the country since he was deported on the eve of the last Australian Open, after he was found to not meet Australia's COVID-19 vaccination requirements of the time.
"It's great to be back in Australia," he said today.
"Obviously what happened 12 months ago was not easy for me, for my family, team, anybody who is close to me.
"And it's obviously disappointing to leave the country like that, but I was really hoping that I [was] going to have my permission back to get back into Australia and play here."
The former world number one and nine-time Australian Open champion had his three-year visa ban overturned ahead of next week's Adelaide International, which he said had a "super strong" list of players.
"Some of the best players in the world playing here, both men and women sides and as I said it's a great place," he said.
"People in Adelaide and generally in Australia love tennis, love sports — it's a sporting nation — so hopefully I'm going to have a lot of people watching and we can have some good time."
Djokovic will use the Adelaide International to prepare for his tenth Australia Open after he missed his chance at the last event.
He said he has felt welcomed in the city so far and hopes to receive a positive reaction from Australian crowds.
"I'll do my best to play good tennis and bring good emotions and good feelings to the crowd," he said.
"This is what we do as professional athletes, we're also entertainers in a way."
"We try to make people who buy their tickets to come and watch us play feel good and have fun and really go back home and have some good memories so hopefully that's going to happen with me and my matches."
Djokovic said returning to Australia, despite what happened, spoke volumes about he felt about the country.
"You can't forget those events, it's one of those things that sticks with you," he said.
"It stays with you for I guess the rest of your life."
"But I have to move on, as I said, and coming back to Australia speaks about how I feel about this country, how I feel about playing here."
Djokovic said the city of Melbourne was still "close to my heart" despite what happened, and he was looking forward to returning for the Australian Open.
"That event or those circumstances will not replace what I have lived in Melbourne and in Australia throughout my entire career, so I come in with positive emotions and I really look forward playing there," he said.
"It's my favourite slam and results are proving it."
