Novak Djokovic is heading back to Australia this January, aiming for a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title. His return comes after a difficult 2022, during which he was deported and banned from the country for three years due to vaccination requirements. Now that the government has granted him a visa, the Serbian star is set to compete in Adelaide as he hunts for his 10th Australian Open victory.
Novak Djokovic is set to return to Australia in January looking for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title. In 2022, Djokovic was deported from Australia by the authorities due to his Covid vaccination status and was handed a three-year ban from entering the country. However, the Serbian ace will be back in Adelaide after being granted a visa by the government as he is in search of his 10th Australian Open title.
Djokovic has admitted that his retirement will only come when he can no longer contend for major championships. Despite being 35, the Serbian athlete is still driven by a hunger for success and refuses to step away from the sport while he is still a top-tier competitor. He views his career achievements and the trophies he's won as a result of great fortune, but he still maintains a bold ambition for the future.
According to Djokovic, his goal is to win every single tournament he enters, with the Grand Slams and Masters events being his top priorities. He also highlighted how playing for his national team brings out his strongest emotions. Having already won 21 Grand Slams, he believes that staying fit and performing at a world-class level is his most important objective for the coming years.
Djokovic doesn't believe in just 'participating' in professional tennis; he refuses to be a player who isn't a favorite for a major title or a top global ranking. He explained that he doesn't want to play at a merely 'good' level as he ages. Instead, he sets a strict standard for himself and his team: if he is on the court, he must be playing at the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
To maintain this edge, Djokovic noted that he works as hard as—and perhaps harder than—anyone else on the tour. He acknowledges that at 35, the physical demands are different than they were at 25. He understands that veteran players must adapt their approach to keep pace with the raw power and energy of the younger generation, though he claims he still feels just as youthful as they do.
Looking back, Djokovic described 2022 as an incredibly taxing year across the board. It took him several months to regain his mental and physical equilibrium on the court. However, he ended the year on a high note by winning the ATP Finals against Casper Ruud, a victory he hopes will provide the necessary momentum for a successful 2023 season.