Novak Djokovic hopes to compete at the 2023 Australian Open as reports from Australia indicate that his entry ban into the county could be lifted.
Djokovic received a 3-year ban to enter Australia when he was deported last January. Since then there has been many changes in Australia with the former government ousted and a new one in place. The new one seems more sympathetic to Djokovic and the Prime Minister of the country already confirmed that his ban will be lifted.
It's not yet been done so Djokovic is reserved in making any early comments but he did confirm yesterday to Reuters that he would like to play in Melbourne again:
“I'm not going to go to America if I don't have permission, so the Australian saga for me was not pleasant at all. People still think I forced my way to Australia and tried to come in with no paper, permission or exemption - it is not true. “Hopefully I can be there in January because I want to be there, and I also want to be in New York. I want to be in America and everywhere I can possibly play.”
He further added:
“I am a professional tennis player, I don't go into politics or anything else because that doesn't interest me. I have my stance and I am a proponent for freedom to choose what is best for you. I respect everything and everybody, and I expect people to at least respect my decision. If I have permission, I'll be there. If I don't, I won't be there - it's not the end of the world.”