Novak Djokovic given hero's welcome in Adelaide ahead of Australian Open - in pictures

Serb teamed up with Canada's Vasek Pospisil to take on Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar at the Adelaide International - his first match in Australia since being deported from the country last year

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, centre, poses for a selfie with a fan after his doubles match at the Adelaide International Tennis tournament in Adelaide, Australia, Monday, January 2, 2023. AP Photo

Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie with a fan after his first round doubles match with Canada's Vasek Pospisil at the ATP Adelaide International. AFP

Serbia's Novak Djokovic with fans after losing his first round doubles match with Canada's Vasek Pospisil against Bosnia's Tomislav Brkic and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar. Reuters

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Vasek Pospisil of Canada compete against against Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Gonzalo Escobar of Ecuador. Getty Images

Novak Djokovic in action during his first round doubles match with Canada's Vasek Pospisil against Bosnia's Tomislav Brkic and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar. Reuters

A fan watches through a fence the first round doubles match between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Canada's Vasek Pospisil against Bosnia's Tomislav Brkic and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar. Reuters

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action. EPA

Novak Djokovic of Serbia signs autographs for fans. EPA

Fans watch Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his first round doubles match with Canada's Vasek Pospisil against Bosnia's Tomislav Brkic and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar. Reuters

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic hits a return during his first round doubles match with Canadian Vasek Pospisil. AFP

Novak Djokovic hits a return. AFP

Novak Djokovic reacts to winning a point. AFP

Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil talk tactics. AFP

Novak Djokovic plays a return shot during his doubles match against Bosnia's Tomislav Brkic and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar at the Adelaide International Tennis tournament. AP Photo

Novak Djokovic poses for a selfie with a young fan. AP Photo

Fans of Novak Djokovic hold a sign during the doubles match at the Adelaide International Tennis tournament. AP Photo

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his doubles match against Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar. AP Photo

Canada's Vasek Pospisil and Serbia's Novak Djokovic talk tactics. AP Photo

Novak Djokovic plays a return shot. AP Photo

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts with Canada's Vasek Pospisil. AP Photo

Steve Luckings

Tennis fans gave Novak Djokovic a raucous welcome during his first match in Australia in almost two years when he made a rare doubles appearance at the Adelaide International on Monday.

The Serb, 35, made headlines before last year's Australian Open when he was deported before the first Grand Slam of 2022 for not being vaccinated for Covid.

READ MORE
Novak Djokovic will never forget being deported from Australia but is ready to move on

Djokovic was subsequently barred from re-entering the country for three years, but the ban was lifted in November and he will be attempting to win a 10th Australian Open title later this month.

He teamed up with Canada's Vasek Pospisil to take on Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar. The match was played on a packed outside court, with the spectators who managed to get in firmly behind Djokovic.

He walked out to loud cheers and fans chanting "Novak, Novak".

Though Djokovic ended up on the losing side (6-4, 3-6, 5-10), the 21-time Grand Slam champion stayed behind to sign autographs and pose for selfies after the match.

Djokovic will now focus on his first singles of the year, against Frenchman Constant Lestienne.

Updated: January 02, 2023, 8:21 AM