Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning his men’s singles final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece
James D. Morgan/Getty Images Novak Djokovic wins the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic celebrates his “biggest victory”.
The Serbian tennis star won his 10th Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam title on Sunday and later described himself as having ‘collapsed emotionally’ from the effort, which left him sobbing into a towel.
“This was one of the most challenging tournaments I’ve ever played in my life, considering the circumstances,” he said at a post-match press conference referring to missing the 2022 Australian Open due to the country’s strict regulations with COVID . -19 and a last minute visa cancellation due to his unvaccinated status.
“I didn’t play last year, I’ll be back this year. I want to thank all the people who made me feel welcome, made me feel comfortable,” added Djokovic, who ruled out Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Melbourne final with a score of 6-3 7 -6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5).
“Only the teams and family know what we’ve been through in the last four or five weeks and this is the biggest win of my life considering those circumstances,” he continued.
RELATED: Novak Djokovic returns to Australia a year after COVID dismissal, aims for 10th Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning his men’s singles final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece
Will Murray/Getty Images
Djokovic’s emotional journey began in January 2022 due to problems with his visa application, despite having previously received a COVID medical exemption to attend the Australian Open.
A three-judge panel at the Federal Court of Australia then unanimously upheld a decision made by Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to cancel his visa on the basis that he was not vaccinated against COVID, ESPN reported.
In a statement, Djokovic expressed his disappointment on the matter but ultimately complied with the ruling made on his behalf.
“I am extremely disappointed with the Court’s ruling which rejected my application for a judicial review of the minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open,” Djokovic said in the statement. ESPN. “I respect the Court’s ruling and will co-operate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.”
The story continues
RELATED: Novak Djokovic says he’s ‘disappointed’ leaving Australia after visa application rejected
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at Government House after winning the 2023 Australian Open
Andy Cheung/Getty Images Novak Djokovic wins the Australian Open
During a press conference in December, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley reportedly had nothing but positive words to say about the athlete’s return following the country’s decision to lift vaccination restrictions.
“Novak is welcome in Australia,” Tiley said of the tennis legend. “I think as we speak he has landed in Adelaide and will be the player to beat again.”
“I have a lot of faith in the Australian crowd,” Tiley added, referring to his belief that Djokovic would be well received by the local crowd. “We’re a very educated sports crowd, especially those who come to tennis. They love their tennis, they love to see greatness, they love to see great athleticism, great matches.”
“And I have a lot of faith that the fans will react the way we hope they will and respect that,” he noted.
Never miss a story – subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Djokovic’s win on Sunday returned him to the top of the men’s world rankings. He also now shares the men’s Grand Slam record with Rafael Nadal.
“I want to thank all the people who made me feel comfortable,” Djokovic said on Sunday. “There’s a reason I played my best tennis here.”
