Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic received a grand welcome back to Australia when he made a rare doubles appearance at the Adelaide International on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Serb and his Canadian partner Vasek Pospisil suffered a 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 loss at the hands of Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar, on his return to Australia for the first time since he won the 2021 Australian Open.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 21-time Grand Slam champion received huge support from the crowd. He was greeted by loud cheers and chants of "Novak, Novak" when he walked out on to court.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Prior to the Australian Open 2022, Djokovic was deported because of his Covid-19 vaccination status and was handed a three-year ban from entering Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles overturned Djokovic's three-year visa ban in November, allowing him to enter the country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Last January, Djokovic, who claimed that he had obtained a medical exemption because he had recently recovered from Covid, was detained by the Australian Border Force on entering the country and forced to stay at an immigration hotel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, after a legal argument, the Australian government cancelled his visa citing that Djokovic did not meet the entry requirements and he was banned from entering Australia till 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djokovic is the top seed in the singles draw in Adelaide and will face Frenchman Constant Lestienne in the first round on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The World No.5 is a nine-time champion in Melbourne and is just one Grand Slam title short of Rafael Nadal's record of 22 for male tennis players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djokovic is the top seed in the singles draw in Adelaide and will face Frenchman Constant Lestienne in the first round on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n