Novak Djokovic will return to action during the first week of 2023 by playing at the Adelaide International in what will be his first appearance on Australian soil since being deported from the country.
Earlier this year the 22-time Grand Slam champion was involved in a high-profile legal dispute with authorities over the legitimacy of his visa. Djokovic said he was assured by Tennis Australia that he would be allowed entry with the use of a special exemption despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19. However, border force officials declared that reason to be insufficient which paved the way for two court appeals. The tennis star won his first appeal after it was decided that the process to detain him was incorrect but he lost his second which paved the way for the government to deport him.
Due to his deportation, Djokovic was facing the prospect of a three-year ban from re-entering Australia but has had that penalty waived by the latest government administration who was more sympathetic towards him about the situation.
“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.” Djokovic commented on the decision last month.
Looking ahead to the new season, the world No.5 will headline the Adelaide International which will start on January 1st. Djokovic is one of eight top 20 players who have entered to play the men’s tournament.
Despite being one of the most decorated players in the history of men’s tennis, the Serbian has only ever won one ATP title on Australian soil outside of the Australian Open which he has won a record nine times. That was at the 2007 Australian Hard Court Championships.
Also playing in Adelaide will be Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Holder Rune. Meanwhile, the women’s tournament that takes place the following week includes top 10 players Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova.
“We are thrilled to confirm such a world-class line up for week one of the Adelaide International,” tournament director Alistair MacDonald said in a statement.
“The calibre of both ATP and WTA players who have entered ensures that tennis fans are going to see the world’s best in Adelaide ahead of the Australian Open.
“We are urging tennis fans to secure their tickets early to see what is shaping up to be one of the strongest fields we’ve seen here at The Drive, which is newly redeveloped.”
Adelaide is one of the key tournaments that takes place leading up to the Australian Open which begins on January 16th.
Entry lists
WTA 500
| Rank | Player | Country |
| 2 | Ons Jabeur | TUN |
| 5 | Aryna Sabalenka | |
| 8 | Daria Kasatkina | |
| 9 | Veronika Kudermetova | |
| 14 | Danielle Collins | USA |
| 17 | Anett Kontaveit | EST |
| 18 | Jelena Ostapenko | LAT |
| 19 | Ekaterina Alexandrova | |
| 20 | Liudmila Samsonova | |
| 22 | Elena Rybakina | KAZ |
| 22 (SR) | Bianca Andreescu | CAN |
| 23 | Amanda Anisimova | USA |
| 24 | Zhang Shuai | CHN |
| 26 | Victoria Azarenka | |
| 27 | Zheng Qinwen | CHN |
| 30 | Aliaksandra Sasnovich | |
| 31 | Karolina Pliskova | CZE |
| 32 | Kaia Kanepi | EST |
| 32 (SR) | Marketa Vondrousova | CZE |
| 34 | Irina-Camelia Begu | ROU |
ATP 250
| Rank | Player | Country |
| 5 | Novak Djokovic | SRB |
| 6 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | CAN |
| 7 | Daniil Medvedev | |
| 8 | Andrey Rublev | |
| 11 | Holger Rune | DEN |
| 15 | Jannik Sinner | ITA |
| 18 | Denis Shapovalov | CAN |
| 20 | Karen Khachanov | |
| 21 | Roberto Bautista Agut | ESP |
| 29 | Miomir Kecmanovic | SRB |
| 33 | Sebastian Korda | USA |
| 34 | Maxime Cressy | USA |
| 36 | Yoshihito Nishioka | JPN |
| 42 | Jack Draper | GBR |
| 45 | Lorenzo Sonego | ITA |
| 47 | Brandon Nakashima | USA |
| 48 | Kyle Edmund | GBR |
| 49 | Andy Murray | GBR |
| 51 | Corentin Moutet | FRA |
| 57 | Pedro Cachin | ARG |
| 61 | Marcos Giron | USA |
| 63 | Mackenzie McDonald | USA |
| 64 | Quentin Halys | FRA |
| 65 | Constant Lestienne | FRA |
| 67 | Daniel Elahi Galan | COL |
Source – https://adelaideinternational.com.au/
