"I'm ecstatic actually, I think it's a great move" - Patrick McEnroe on Novak Djokovic being allowed to compete at next year's Australian Open
ATP
Patrick McEnroe has welcomed the decision to overturn Novak Djokovic's Australian visa ban and subsequent inclusion in the 2023 Australian Open.
As has been widely reported this week, the nine-time Australian Open champion will be back at his most successful Major after the Australian government decided to overturn his three-year visa ban.
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McEnroe, who was a vocal supporter of the Serb during his COVID-related controversies at the Australian Open and the US Open earlier this year, feels his return to Australia is great for the sport.
"Looks like Novak Djokovic will be back @AustralianOpen. Great for tennis," Patrick McEnroe wrote on Twitter.
McEnroe further opened up about the same, expressing his sheer delight upon hearing the news. McEnroe lauded the government's decision and went on to call the Serbian "the best player on the planet."
"I'm ecstatic, actually. I think it's a great move, it's great for Djokovic, and most importantly it's great for the tournament and great for tennis," Patrick McEnroe said in an interview with 7News Melbourne.
"Djokovic, to me, right now, is still the best player on the planet," he added.
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Meanwhile, there is still no official word from the Australian government or immigration department. Before the news first broke on Tuesday, the 21-time Grand Slam champion himself revealed that his lawyers were in constant communication with the government and he was waiting for official word.
"We are waiting. They are communicating with the government of Australia. That's all I can tell you for now," he said in a press conference at the ongoing ATP Finals.
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As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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