Novak Djokovic reveals being deported from Australia last year INSPIRED him to win at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic said his controversial deportation ahead of last year’s Australian Open proved an unlikely catalyst for success in 2022, allowing him to regroup on the practice court before bouncing back with key titles.

The Serb trained hard in the months after his deportation and while he was banned from competing in the United States for not being vaccinated against covid-19.

He later won his seventh Wimbledon crown and capped a year of interruptions by winning the ATP Tour Finals for the sixth time in Turin.

Novak Djokovic returned to Melbourne on Friday for an exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios at Rod Laver Arena.

Back at Melbourne Park after the Australian government lifted its visa ban, Djokovic said missing events because of his vaccination stance had renewed his resolve on the training ground.

‘Yes absolutely. I mean, normally, as a professional tennis player at the highest level, you don’t have a lot of time to have a longer training block,” Djokovic told reporters on Saturday.

“The fact that I wasn’t playing for several months at the beginning of last year allowed me to really bond with my team and work on my body, on my shots, which then helped me achieve great results.”

Djokovic told local broadcaster Nine Network that he felt like “the villain of the world” last year in Melbourne, where he was detained in a hotel with asylum seekers before being deported.

The Serb was at the center of a diplomatic storm 12 months ago when he was deported from Australia on the eve of the Australian Open for failing to comply with Covid-19 rules.

Djokovic told reporters on Saturday that he felt like “the villain of the whole world” last year.

However, he was warmly received by a crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night during a practice match against hometown hero Nick Kyrgios.

Djokovic, who will be seeking a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, said he had no choice but to put the events of last year behind him.

‘Well, you have to. I mean, in a way, if I hold a grudge, probably if I can’t move on, I wouldn’t be here,” he told reporters.

“I also have to say that the number of positive experiences I had in Australia outweigh the negative experience perhaps last year.”

The 35-year-old bounced back and won a 21st Grand Slam title while triumphing at Wimbledon.

The 35-year-old said he was still cautious about a hamstring strain he picked up in Adelaide and was training lighter than usual to conserve his energy.

However, there was no stopping his motivation to take another Melbourne Park crown and tie champion Rafa Nadal in Grand Slam career for a 22nd Grand Slam title.

“That’s why I keep playing professional tennis, competitive tennis, because I want to be the best, I want to win the biggest tournaments in the world,” said Djokovic, who opens his tournament against unseeded Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.

There is no secret about it. There is nothing bigger than this. I like my chances. I always like my chances.