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Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has started his preparations for the upcoming first major of the year as he aims to win his 10th title in Melbourne. The current World No. 1 was dragged into a legal battle after it emerged that he was not vaccinated for the Covid-19 virus.
The Serbian faced deportation, before winning the legal fight and getting a special exemption for the tournament. He has now begun preparations to win the elusive 21st major of his career.
Djokovic is currently preparing at the Melbourne tennis center and will be full of confidence going into the tournament. In an Instagram post, he wrote, "I remain focused on that. I flew here to play at one of the most important events we have in front of the amazing fans."
Accompanied by Ivanisevic
Djokovic was seen accompanied by his coach and former major champion Goran Ivanisevic in preparations for the tournament. He has opted not to be part of any build-up tournament and will rather enter directly. Djokovic will be the top-seeded in the men's singles and will face competition from long-time rival Rafael Nadal, both of whom are locked at 20 majors each.
A 21st major crown will await Djokovic, but he can't afford to take the foot off the pedal as other competitors will be in full swing. He reached the finals of all four majors in 2021, only losing to Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the final of the US Open. It was for the first time since 1988, men or women, that a tennis player had reached the finals of all four majors in the same year.
Steffi Graf of Germany was the last star to achieve this accolade when she even won a ‘Goldslam’ which included all four majors and an Olympic Gold medal in Seoul.
Rod Laver, after whom the Australian Open center court is named, was the last men's player to reach the finals of all four majors and win the Grandslam in 1969. Djokovic will be eyeing a similar feat this time around, as he starts the bid on Monday (January 17) to be a record 10-time Australian Open champion.
