Craig Tiley shares more positive news with Novak Djokovic
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The next Major tournament starts in Melbourne in three and a half months. The tournament director Craig Tiley expects to see all the world’s leading players in the hunt for the trophy, including nine-time champion Novak Djokovic.
The Serb was deported from Australia in January, losing a chance to seek his tenth Melbourne Park trophy after a ten-day saga over his visa. Australia has seen a new government since then, and the situation with the coronavirus looks much better than at the beginning of 2022.
Thus, Tiley is confident about Djokovic’s participation in the season’s first Major. Recently, Novak received good news, with senior Federal Government officials deciding to allow him to enter Australia and compete.
The Serb will avoid this year’s mistake and await official confirmation of his entrance to Australia. Djokovic’s first Major title came in Melbourne 2008 after beating Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Novak became the dominant figure in Melbourne in 2011 and set the records that will take some beating in the future.
Novak’s ninth Melbourne Open crown came last year following a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Daniil Medvedev in an hour and 53 minutes. Novak experienced an abdomen injury against Taylor Fritz in the third round and gathered dark clouds over his title chances.
Novak Djokovic hopes to compete in Australia in January.
Novak endured a five-setter and the following challenges after beating Milos Raonic, Alexander Zverev and Aslan Karatsev to find himself in the ninth Australian Open final.
The Serb hit 20 winners and 17 unforced errors against Medvedev in the title clash, losing serve twice and dominating the return with seven breaks that carried him over the top. The opening set brought a tight battle, as they stayed neck and neck.
Djokovic held at love at 5-5 and broke Medvedev in the next one when the Russian netted a forehand to wrap up the set and gain a massive boost. Novak used this momentum and his experience to dominate sets two and three, playing well on serve and return to win them 6-2 and lift the trophy.
“We are at a different point in time now than we were nine months ago. I think it’s a very different environment with people traveling freely worldwide, and we hope to have all the best players here in January,” Craig Tiley said.
Read More: Craig Tiley shares more positive news with Novak Djokovic 2022-10-05 20:21:12