Djokovic Says Deportation Drama Paved Way to Success

Djokovic Says Deportation Drama Paved Way to Success
Serbia's Novak Djokovic during a press conference ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 14, 2023. Loren Elliott/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

MELBOURNE—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 he was deported and while barred from competing in the United States for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.