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<\/p>\nThere were questions and contradictions about Djokovic\u2019s immigration form declaration, and a subsequent apology for a \u201cmistake\u201d on said form because he had, in fact, travelled in the previous 14 days and flouted quarantine rules to do a L\u2019\u00c9quipe photoshoot while knowingly infected with the virus.<\/p>\n
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Novak Djokovic prepares to take his seat on a plane to Belgrade after being deported from Australia.Credit: AP<\/p>\n
The world No.1 would have felt worse than Harry Brook on a Wellington bender. Meanwhile, Tiley\u2019s bottom was burning, so scorching was the proverbial hot seat of Tennis Australia\u2019s chief executive after accusations of seeking a loophole to cater for an unvaccinated player chasing a record 21st grand slam title.<\/p>\n
Rafael Nadal was among the players who felt a \u201clittle bit tired of the situation because I just believe that it\u2019s important to talk about our sport, about tennis\u201d. Nadal remained tired until his broken body had beaten Djokovic to that record 21st singles crown. His five-set comeback epic of a men\u2019s final against Daniil Medvedev came a day after Ash Barty became the tournament\u2019s first Australian singles winner in 44 years.<\/p>\n
Hours before that, Kyrgios had live-streamed his entrance to Rod Laver Arena where he and Thanasi Kokkinakis won the men\u2019s doubles. The Special Ks were wildcards in every sense, the lawn club brats who told punters to \u201cdrink piss and come here\u201d. Who hijacked the sport\u2019s morality and tradition, and geez that sounds suspiciously like Bazball. Except that this pair won, while Bazball\u2019s mode of anti-establishment was also a mode of anti-success.<\/p>\n
It was the tournament when \u201cWhere is Peng Shuai?\u201d T-shirts were banned, then not banned (banners were still prohibited). Its soundtrack was \u201csiuuu\u201d (\u201cincredibly irritating \u2026 painful stuff\u201d, according to Andy Murray). And it was the tournament that out-headlined the 2021-22 Ashes series directly preceding it.<\/p>\n
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Four years later, the big guns of today will contest the \u201chappy slam\u201d. Djokovic will return once more, though under the perpetual fitness cloud plaguing the Serbian great since his 10th AO singles title in 2023. Jannik Sinner will attempt to lift a third consecutive trophy, though already has his prizemoney from a recent exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Korea.<\/p>\n
Kyrgios ruled himself out of a likely wildcard, saying his rehabbed body is not ready for five-set tennis. The call has helped Tiley out of an awkward position in that old favourite Stan Wawrinka can return to the scene of his maiden major trophy in his final season at the age of 40.<\/p>\n
But Kyrgios and Kokkinakis will reunite to try to emulate their 2022 doubles success. Aryna Sabalenka will campaign for a third title after losing last year\u2019s final to Madison Keys.<\/p>\n
And there\u2019s the fact that most professional tennis players do not have an aversion to warm-up matches. So the tennis will be undeniably good, if lacking in the histrionics of the past two months.<\/p>\n