Despite a difficult 2022, Novak Djokovic has reaffirmed that he is the strongest player in the world. The former ATP number 1 paid dearly for his decision not to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus, having to miss the Australian Open and the US Open.
The Serbian phenomenon suffered serious image damage due to the Australian soap opera, in addition to having to miss the entire Masters 1000 in the United States. The 35-year-old from Belgrade turned his season around by winning Wimbledon for the fourth time in a row, the seventh time overall.
Nole has also won the ATP Finals, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the Astana ATP 500 and the Tel Aviv ATP 250. A couple of weeks ago the news broke that he will be able to play the Australian Open 2023. In fact, the local government has lifted the three-year ban on his head.
Goran Ivanisevic’s protégé will seek his 10th Slam at Melbourne Park, which would allow him to join Rafael Nadal with 22 Slams. Janko Tipsarevic, captain of the Serbian team in the “North Palmyra Trophy” (the controversial exhibition organized in Saint Petersburg), spoke about his compatriot Novak Djokovic.
“From my point of view, Nole Djokovic is the best tennis player of all time. The bans related to his vaccination status did not stop him. He won five titles in 2022 and finished the season in the Top 5, an incredible achievement considering who had to miss two Slams and several Masters 1000.
He showed that he is still the strongest player in the world,” Tipsarevic said. Recently, even Mats Wilander praised the Serbian star: “Novak had to miss the Australian Open and the US Open this year, which is a real shame for him and for tennis in general.”
Nole wants to win the AOs
Novak Djokovic remains “the best player” in the world and he will “add gravy and gravitas” to the 2023 Australian tennis summer with doubles great Paul McNamee saying he is the favourite to win next year’s Australian Open.
“People forget that he set up the COVID vaccination clinics in Serbia, and that his own son’s vaccinated,” he said. “It’s just what he believes for him – but it’s obviously not what mainstream beliefs are, and fair enough.
I’m vaccinated and it’s a personal choice. I was very disappointed with how it went down … that’s the way it goes, isn’t it? But it’s in the past now. I think this is a great Australian Open to be looking forward to, and with the United Cup kicking off the season, I think we’re going to have a big summer. Novak certainly adds gravy and gravitas to the whole thing”.
