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Eurosport expert Mats Wilander commented on Novak Djokovic and his return to the Australian Open. Wilander couldn't help but mention the incidents that happened in the previous period. Djokovic missed a lot because of his decision not to get vaccinated, but now he wants to make up for it.
Wilander considers him the main favorite. "I think Novak Djokovic is going to be very welcome wherever he wasn't allowed to go in 2023," Wilander said.
"It starts with the Australian Open, of course, and I don't think that we have ever seen a more hungry tennis player in terms of wanting to get revenge or wanting to win matches.
I don't think anyone has ever been hungrier than Novak is going to be.
I think that a lot of people maybe thought that decision [being deported] was right at the time because you can't make a privilege out of being Novak Djokovic.
I think this year, he's going to be very welcome and it's going to be an amazing situation.
I think Novak is the number one favourite for many, many reasons. I mean, obviously, one reason is that he's won the Australian Open nine times.
The surface is perfect for him.
The Australian Open has a history of having players winning it multiple times that are very consistent all the time - and I'm speaking from my own experience as I won there three times.When you play the way Novak plays, he doesn't have ups and downs.
Everybody is not 100% ready in Australia. Some are very ready, some are not ready, and he is always somewhat ready. Somewhat ready for him means he's the favourite. The surface is perfect."
Mats Wilander and Djokovic
Wilander mentioned the race between him and Nadal.
It will have a big impact on Djokovic's motivation. "The revenge he most probably wants will be winning in Melbourne," he said. "The race is back on. If he wins it, it's 22-22 [Grand Slams tally with Nadal].
He has got to get to 22 before the French Open comes in May because Rafa might grab another one. You cannot lose in Melbourne and be 21 and Rafa gets to 23.