Having touched down in Adelaide amid uncertainty about how he would be received following the controversy that led to his deportation last year, Novak Djokovic continues to build bridges with the Australian public.
Djokovic was afforded a warm welcome at Memorial Drive as he eased past Constant Lestienne of France with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in his opening singles match of the season.
It was a similar story for the Serb during his losing doubles appearance alongside Canada’s Vasek Pospisil on Monday, and he is clearly eager to harness the prevailing goodwill and move on from the events of last January, when his enduring refusal to take a Covid vaccine led the Australian government to revoke his visa.
“It was different coming into Australia this year than any other year, certainly, because of the events 12 months ago,” acknowledged Djokovic, who has won nine of his 21 grand slam titles at the Australian Open.
“But at the same time, 12 months is quite a long time. Already, it’s behind me. I’ve moved on. I [was] looking forward to coming because I always play very well – and probably my best tennis throughout my career – on Australian soil.
“From day one, people have been very kind, generous with me and my team, so overall a great experience so far.”
Djokovic admitted following his arrival in Adelaide that, while he bore no grudges against Australia over his deportation, it had been difficult to digest.
“You can’t forget those events,” said Djokovic, who will face Quentin Halys, a Frenchman ranked 64th in the world, in the last 16.
“It’s one of these things that sticks with you, it stays with you for, I guess, the rest of your life.”
While the public response to his return has so far been overwhelmingly positive, it remains to be seen how the Wimbledon champion will be received in Melbourne. Djokovic is hoping for the best, while keeping his expectations in check.
“If I was not looking forward to coming to Australia, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I want to be here.
“I don’t have any expectations. I just try to stay in the moment. Now my focus is on here, on Adelaide, try to do well in this tournament. Obviously Melbourne, grand slam, it’s different.
“I’ll be there also a week before my first match, as I normally do, training, getting used to the slight difference in the conditions and the speed of the court, and let’s see. I mean, I hope that I’ll be received well.
“That’s what I’m hoping for, but I don’t have any expectations.”
Another player who could be forgiven for harbouring concerns about the fallout from events in Australia 12 months ago is Daniil Medvedev, whom Djokovic will face in the last four in Adelaide if the seedings hold.
Facing the press before his opening match in Adelaide, the Russian third seed was asked about his victory over home favourite Nick Kyrgios in the second round of last year’s Australian Open. Medvedev, who won in four sets – his only win in five meetings with Kyrgios – remarked in a television interview afterwards that members of the Rod Laver Arena crowd who chanted “siuuu” between his first and second serves had “a low IQ”.
“This comment was probably not smart from my part,” said Medvedev, who also referred to crowd hecklers as “idiots” during his five-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in the final.
“But when you go out from the match, the way it was with Nick, sometimes you say things right after where you’re like, ‘Why did I say this?’ First, that’s maybe not true. Then, it’s stupid.
“During the match we have some crazy moments, all of us, and generally I like the Australian crowd.”
Medvedev also spoke frankly of his despair after losing last year’s final to Nadal from two sets to love up.
“I felt terrible,” said Medvedev, “absolutely terrible. Again, the thing about life and tennis is that you have to get over it, try to learn from it because you cannot change the past. I had some tough moments in my career, tough losses.
“I always managed to find a way back, so I’m sure I’m going to find the way back to an even higher level than I was playing maybe last year.
“The match was not easy to get over for some time but, at least right now, I’m looking forward to Australian Open again, and I want to do better than last year. That’s the goal.”
There were no such problems for Medvedev as he opened his Adelaide campaign against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, the Russian advancing 7-6 (8-6), 2-1 after Sonego was forced to retire with leg cramps.
But Felix Auger-Aliassime, the second seed, is out after falling to a 6-4, 7-6, (7-5) defeat against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, ranked 120th, on Monday.
In the women’s draw, Anett Kontaveit, the sixth seed and former world No 2, was beaten by Qinwen Zheng of China. Zheng, 20, the WTA and Love Game Tennis newcomer of the year, saved a match point en route to a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7) victory.
“I’m happy I’m able to hold the pressure in the third set in the tiebreak and to get a win in the first match of the year,” said Zheng. “I always know that I have the level to beat all of them. It’s just a problem I have to show it on court.”