"His career has been extended for five or six years" - Novak Djokovic's uncle on how the fiasco in Australia has made the Serb stronger

Novak Djokovic's uncle Goran Djokovic recently spoke about how the Australian Open fiasco helped Djokovic's form and fitness rather than harming it. Goran insisted that the absence from the Major Down Under might have extended his nephew's career for another "five or six years."

Novak Djokovic was barred from participating at the Australian Open because of being unvaccinated against COVID-19. While the 35-year-old initially received an exemption from Australia's strict requirements to enter the country, he was eventually deported after a lot of back and forth between him and the Australian legal system.

Expand Tweet

Goran Djokovic, meanwhile, is an entrepreneur born in Yugoslavia. He is the proud owner of Djokovic Wine, the businessman's latest venture.

While speaking to The Pavlovic Today about his new business, Goran also gave a brief insight into his nephew's mindset and thinking. He claimed that Djokovic is always confident of his decisions and that he "knows what he wants."

"Novak is his own person," Goran said. "He knows who he is. Novak knows what he wants."

He continued by stating that the fiasco surrounding his participation in the year's first Grand Slam would help Djokovic extend his career by a few years.

"The ordeal he went through this year in Australia only extended his career," Goran said. "Instead of maybe retiring from tennis in three or four years, his career has been extended for five, or six years. He is resting his body."

Djokovic, a former World No. 1, was hopeful of making it to the US Open this year. But he had to withdraw his name in the last few days because of the US government's policy on unvaccinated foreign nationals being barred from visiting the country.

Novak Djokovic is expected to participate at the Australian Open in 2023

Novak Djokovic is set to return to the 2023 Australian Open, according to the CEO of Tennis Australia Craig Tiley.

After being deported from Australia earlier this year on the grounds of not being vaccinated, Djokovic was reportedly slapped with a three-year visa ban. However, Australian immigration law has a provision that states that a visa ban can be waived on special requests, which could pave the way for Djokovic to circumvent the ban.

Journalist Luis Alfredo Alvarez confirmed the same on Twitter.