NOVAK Djokovic will play in January’s Adelaide International, a year after being deported from Australia because of his COVID-19 vaccination status.

The Serb, who has won a record nine Australian Open titles, is also set to compete at the first Grand Slam of the year after his visa ban was overturned.

Britain’s Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund and Jack Draper will also play in Adelaide, with the event beginning on January 1.

The Australian Open starts 15 days later in Melbourne.

Along with world number five, Djokovic, there will be three other top-10 men’s players in Adelaide, with Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev also competing.

The women’s field is strong too, as top-10 players Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova will take part.

Djokovic, 35, won the season-ending ATP Finals in December and will be bidding to win a 22nd Grand Slam title, which would take him level with Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who claimed the title in Melbourne at the start of this year.

Serbia’s Djokovic was deported before the 2022 event after his visa was cancelled. He was automatically banned for three years from entering Australia, but in November learned that he would receive a visa for 2023.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Emma Raducanu will start her season at the Auckland Open in New Zealand, which starts on January 2. (BBC Sport)