How Dubai tennis scripted Novak Djokovic's turnaround after the Australian Covid saga

Better late than never. A year on after he was sent back from Down Under after a lengthy drama, over Covid-19 vaccine, that would have given any soap opera a run for the money, Novak Djokovic was at peace after winning a 10th Australian Open at the magnificent Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Sunday.

The Serb, who formed the Big Three of the now retired Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, also went on to equal Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam crowns.

It was a remarkable comeback by Djokovic, who had won the first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park back in 2008. And the victory against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas was all the sweeter as it vaulted the 35-year-old to the top of the men’s singles ranking at No.1, a position that he had held for a record 374 weeks previously.

And as Djokovic plots a record 23rd Grand Slam crown that will make him go clear of gritty Nadal on the latter’s favourite surface — clay — at this year’s French Open, it is important to look back at the year gone by where Djokovic fought off the demons, both mentally and physically, to scale the pinnacle of his beloved sport.

And it is safe to say that the seeds of Djokovic’s stellar comeback were sown in Dubai.

Djokovic had been through a lot during that ugly saga prior to last year’s Australian Open. And after the ordeal had come to an end not in the Serb’s favour, Djokovic decided to make his first appearance of the season in Dubai. And the emirate welcomed him with open arms.

Crowds packed in at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre as Djokovic competed in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, one of his favourite events on the calendar.

And the pristine hardcourt in Dubai was where Djokovic’s season really took off.

Although a tad rusty, Djokovic beat Italian wildcard Lorenzo in the first round and Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round before going down to Jiri Vesely in a tight quarterfinal. The loss may have been hard to take but they were important lessons along the way as his season took shape.

Djokovic went on to win the Italian Open in May before facing a loss to Nadal at the French Open. But he soon gathered it together and beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in an epic final to win a seventh Wimbledon crown.

• Australian Open: Djokovic wins his 22nd Grand Slam after defeating Tsitsipas