Novak Djokovic breaks silence on Australian Open verdict as three-year ban overturned

Novak Djokovic has spoken about returning to the Australian Open for the first time since the Australian federal government decided to lift its three-year ban on entering the country. The world No.8 received an automatic sanction barring him from entering Australia until 2025 after being deported earlier this year and has since spent months waiting to find out his fate before it was announced Tuesday that the government would allow him to return to Australia. it's time for the Australian Open in January.

Djokovic received the news he had been waiting for on Tuesday morning as it was reported that the Australian Federal Government had taken the decision to overturn his three-year ban on entering the country. The nine-time Aussie Open champion had his visa revoked twice before being expelled on the eve of the tournament this year, as it was decided his presence would "stir up anti-vax sentiment" in the country. p>

All deportees from Australia are automatically banned from returning to the country for three years, but have the right to appeal, and the 35-year-old succeeded. Djokovic has now reacted to the news for the first time after his 6-4 6-1 win over Andrey Rublev in the ATP Finals, and said the verdict was playing on his mind in Wednesday's game. p>

"Well, of course, I was very happy to hear the news yesterday," Djokovic told reporters in Turin. "Yeah it was obviously a relief to know what me and the people closest to me have been through this year with what happened in Australia and after Australia obviously. I couldn't get better news for sure - during this tournament as well."

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The former five-time ATP Finals champion put on a clinical display to book his place in the semi-finals in just 67 minutes and says the good news from Australia may have played a part in his performance. Djokovic continued: "Did it affect my game today? I'd like to believe it.

"Why not? I don't think it affected me too much because I know what I need to do to prepare for every game." And Djokovic was also happy to have some certainty ahead of the offseason as he could begin building his training regimen with the goal of winning a record 10th Australian Open title.

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"Of course, knowing that I...