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JUCHITAN, Mexico, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Members of southern Mexico's third-gender 'muxe' community celebrated sexual and gender diversity over the weekend, while committing to fighting for LGBTQ people in the face of recent losses. "In the Zapotec language, there is no gender," said Felina Santiago, considered by many the matriarch of Juchitan's muxe community. Before the festivities began, a special mass was held for festival attendees and other members of the local community. This weekend's festival is called the "True Fearless Seekers of Danger" vela, a name that harkens to the risk many members of the community face. Reporting by Jose Cortes in Juchitan; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Felina Santiago, Juchitan's, Oscar Cazorla, Ociel Baena, Mexico's, Elvis Guerra, Jose Cortes, Brendan O'Boyle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: vela, Thomson Locations: JUCHITAN, Mexico, Juchitan, Oaxaca, Aguascalientes
By David Alire GarciaMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Prominent non-binary Mexican activist Ociel Baena was slain with a razor blade, a local prosecutor said on Tuesday, in a suspected murder that has led to an outpouring of grief from members of the country's LGBT community. Some participants waved rainbow fans, which Baena often brought to public events, including one last year where Mexico's foreign minister unveiled the country's first non-binary passport. Aguascalientes chief prosecutor Jesus Figueroa told Radio Formula that Baena was found with 20 lacerations from a shaving razor, including one to the neck that was likely fatal. Rights organizations called on authorities to investigate whether Baena's gender identity or activism played a role in the suspected murder. Since last year, Baena had served as a state elections judge, believed to be the first non-binary person to hold the position.
Persons: David Alire Garcia, Ociel Baena, Baena, Dorian Daniel, Jesus Figueroa, Figueroa, Daniel, Cristian Gonzalez, Juan Pablo Delgado, Laura Gottesdiener, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: David Alire Garcia MEXICO CITY, Radio, Human Rights Watch, Amicus Locations: Aguascalientes
[1/5] People attend the mass funeral for Mexico's first openly non-binary magistrate and LGBTQ activist, Ociel Baena, and their partner, Dorian Daniel Nieves Herrera, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. REUTERS/Edgar Chavez Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Prominent non-binary Mexican activist Ociel Baena was slain with a razor blade, a local prosecutor said on Tuesday, in a suspected murder that has led to an outpouring of grief from members of the country's LGBT community. Some participants waved rainbow fans, which Baena often brought to public events, including one last year where Mexico's foreign minister unveiled the country's first non-binary passport. Aguascalientes chief prosecutor Jesus Figueroa told Radio Formula that Baena was found with 20 lacerations from a shaving razor, including one to the neck that was likely fatal. Since last year, Baena had served as a state elections judge, believed to be the first non-binary person to hold the position.
Persons: Mexico's, Ociel Baena, Dorian Daniel Nieves Herrera, Edgar Chavez, Baena, Dorian Daniel, Jesus Figueroa, Figueroa, Daniel, Cristian Gonzalez, Juan Pablo Delgado, David Alire Garcia, Laura Gottesdiener, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Radio, Human Rights Watch, Amicus, Thomson Locations: Aguascalientes, Mexico, MEXICO
Jesús Ociel Baena made history a year ago when they were sworn in as the first openly nonbinary person to assume a judicial post in Mexico. Baena, who used they/them pronouns, and their partner were found dead inside their home, stirring calls from Mexico’s L.G.B.T.Q. community to determine if the magistrate had been targeted for promoting the rights of nonbinary people. Baena, 38, was a magistrate on the electoral court, have said that their 37-year-old partner, Dorian Herrera, appeared to have killed them with a razor blade before dying by suicide. leaders in Mexico are questioning whether such a swift assessment fits what they say is a pattern by the authorities of effectively dismissing grisly killings involving L.G.B.T.Q.
Persons: Jesús, Baena, Mexico’s, Dorian Herrera Locations: Mexico, Aguascalientes
Guadalajara, Mexico CNN —Mexico’s first openly non-binary magistrate and prominent LGBTQ activist Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo was found dead at home in the central state of Aguascalientes on Monday. “The investigation is going to be done,” Rodríguez said during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s daily press conference, also on Monday. For a little over a year, Baena was a member of the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes’ Electoral Tribunal. Baena told CNN en Español in October last year that there was no record in Latin America of a non-binary magistrate. Baena said that being the first was an achievement and recognition for years of work in favor of LGBTQ rights.
Persons: Mexico CNN — Mexico’s, Jesús Ociel, Saucedo, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, General Jesús Figueroa, ” Rodríguez, Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s, , ” Figueroa, Baena, ” Baena Organizations: Mexico CNN, Mexico’s, Aguascalientes ’, CNN, Español, Gay Games Locations: Guadalajara, Mexico, Aguascalientes, Mexican, Aguascalientes ’, America, Tamaulipas, Mexico’s Guadalajara, Hong Kong
Mexico's first openly non-binary magistrate found dead at home
  + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
MONTERREY, Mexico, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Mexico's first openly non-binary magistrate and prominent LGBTQ activist, Ociel Baena, was found dead at home in the central state of Aguascalientes, Mexican authorities said on Monday. Baena, who used they/them pronouns, was celebrated across Latin America for their work to advance the rights of the LGBTQ community. Mexico's Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said authorities are investigating the cause of death. The Aguascalientes state prosecutor's office said in a statement that Baena's body was found along with that of another person, whom local media identified as Baena's partner. The former chief justice of Mexico's Supreme Court, Arturo Zaldivar, said he deeply lamented Baena's death.
Persons: Mexico's, Ociel Baena, Baena, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Arturo Zaldivar, Laura Gottesdiener, Beth Solomon, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Mexico's, Thomson Locations: MONTERREY, Mexico, Aguascalientes, America, Mexico City, Monterrey
GRANADA, Spain, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Ferran Torres scored twice to help Spain earn a comfortable 6-0 win against bottom side Cyprus in a Euro 2024 Group A qualifier on Tuesday, with Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal becoming his country's youngest-ever starter aged 16 years and 61 days. It was another record for Spain's Yamal, who had become his country's youngest international and goalscorer on Friday when he made his debut in a 7-1 win away to Georgia. Alvaro Morata scored from the rebound but the effort was ruled out by the VAR for offside. Spain are second in Group A on nine points after four matches. "You could be there standing still for 60 minutes and than one ball comes and you have to stop it.
Persons: Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Spain's Yamal, Alvaro Morata, Spain's, Nico Williams, Gavi, Mikel Merino, Williams, Joel Mall, Joselu, Torres, Alex Baena, Robin Le Normand, TVE, Fernando Kallas, Clare Fallon, Toby Davis Organizations: Athletic, Thomson Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Cyprus, Barcelona, Georgia
MADRID, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Barcelona's 16-year-old forward Lamine Yamal received a first senior call-up for Spain, as manager Luis de la Fuente named his squad on Friday for next week's Euro 2024 Group A matches against Georgia and Cyprus. Yamal, who has a Moroccan father, was born and raised in Spain. He is a Spain youth international and his call-up for the senior side will end the hopes of Moroccan fans that he could be persuaded to switch allegiance. He was a stalwart of Spain's youth teams and is a footballer with exceptional power. Reporting by Fernando Kallas Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Lamine Yamal, Luis de la Fuente, Yamal, De la Fuente, Kepa Arrizabalaga, David de Gea, Unai Simon, Kepa, David Raya, Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte, Cesar Azpilicueta, Robin Le Normand, David Garcia, Pau Torres, Alejandro Balde, Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Alex Baena, Dani Olmo, Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio, Lamine, Nico Williams, Abel Ruiz, Fernando Kallas, Toby Davis Organizations: Georgia, Villarreal, Manchester United, Athletic, Arsenal, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spain, Cyprus, LaLiga, Moroccan, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Gaya
Ruthless Djokovic makes winning return to US Open
  + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
"I was excited to go out on the court, it has been a couple of years so to come in front of you guys is always a pleasure," Djokovic told the New York crowd. Djokovic broke Muller for a fourth time to open the second set and went 2-0 up before his opponent held serve for the first time, raising both hands in triumph as the crowd roared. But the cheers would be few and far between as Djokovic closed out the second with a wicked forehand. Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in an epic Wimbledon final in July, opens his account on Tuesday against Germany's Dominik Koepfer. Next up for number two seed Djokovic is Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who was a straight sets winner over American Ethan Quinn.
Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, France’s Alexandre Muller, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Frenchman Alexandre Muller, Margaret Court's, Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Ashe, Barack Obama, Michelle, Carlos Alcaraz, Muller, Frenchman, Alcaraz, Germany's Dominik Koepfer, Holger Rune, Roberto Carballes Baena, Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Ethan Quinn, Steve Keating, Peter Rutherford Organizations: France’s Alexandre Muller REUTERS, U.S, COVID, New, Cincinnati, U.S ., Djokovic's, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Flushing, New York, U.S, Danish
Barcelona fight back to win seven-goal thriller at Villarreal
  + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Aug 27 (Reuters) - Barcelona fought back to secure a barnstorming 4-3 win at Villarreal on Sunday, with last year's LaLiga top scorer Robert Lewandowski bagging the winner late in the second half. However, last year's LaLiga champions woke up with Yamal creating all types of trouble for the hosts' defence. It was Barca's second win in three games this season. They are third in the LaLiga standings on seven points, level with Girona, trailing leaders Real Madrid by two points. Reporting by Fernando Kallas in Madrid Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Robert Lewandowski, Yamal, Villarreal's Alexander Sorloth, Alex Baena, Sorloth, Frenkie De Jong, Juan Foyth, Alexander Sorloth, Marc, Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Moreno, Alfonso Pedraza, Pedraza, Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, Fernando Kallas, Toby Davis Organizations: Villarreal, Barca, Girona, Real Madrid, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Norway, Madrid
ATP roundup: Yosuke Watanuki records upset in Washington
  + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
[1/4] Aug 2, 2023; Washington, D.C., USA; Yosuke Watanuki (JPN) hits a backhand against Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Fitzgerald Tennis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsAugust 3 - Japan's Yosuke Watanuki prevailed in a wild first-set tiebreaker en route to a 7-6 (10), 7-6 (3) upset of No. 3 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday in a second-round match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington. Watanuki jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set's tiebreaker, but Auger-Aliassime stormed back and eventually held leads of 5-4 and 9-8. But Watanuki held firm, and on his fifth set point, he was finally able to get past the Canadian.
Persons: Yosuke, Felix Auger, Geoff Burke, Watanuki, Aliassime, Jordan Thompson, Adrian Mannarino, Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, Daniel Evans of, Tallon Griekspoor, Christopher Eubanks, Ugo Humbert, Gael Monfils, Great, Andy Murray, Taylor Fritz, Zachary Svajda, Alex Molcan, Sebastian Ofner, Molcan, Argentina's Sebastian Baez, Roberto Carballes Baena, France's Arthur Rinderknech, Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan, Dominic Thiem, Djere, Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Pedro Cachin Organizations: D.C, Citi DC, Fitzgerald Tennis, USA, ., Austrian, Thomson Locations: Washington, USA, France, Daniel Evans of Great Britain, Slovakia, Kitzbuhel, Austria, Spain, Serbia
Rune sails through after rain-delayed win
  + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Christian Radnedge | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Holger Rune sailed through to the second round of Wimbledon for the first time with a 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2 victory over British wildcard George Loffhagen in a rain-delayed match on Wednesday. However, Rune's precision and accuracy secured him the first set on a tiebreak before the match was suspended. The Briton did get on the scoreboard and clawed some games back with the help of five aces, but Rune was too good, bringing up three set points with a backhand volley and converting straight away. As the evening drew in, Loffhagen was broken once more and sent a backhand into the net to hand the match to Rune who will face Italy's Matteo Arnaldi or Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round. Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Holger Rune, George Loffhagen, Dane, Kenneth Carlsen, Loffhagen, Rune, Italy's Matteo Arnaldi, Roberto Carballes Baena, Christian Radnedge, Ed Osmond Organizations: Wimbledon, British, All England Club, 981st, Briton, Thomson Locations: London
CNN —It sounds like Arnold Schwarzenegger struggled to tell his then wife Maria Shriver about his secret son with their housekeeper Mildred Baena. According to The Sun, Schwarzenegger revealed how the bombshell came out that Joseph Baena, now 25, was his son. “One day, the counselor said, ‘Today Maria wants to be very specific about something,’” Schwarzenegger reportedly says. The affair with Mildred Baena happened in 1996. “It was then just a matter of, ‘How do you keep this quiet?’”CNN has reached out to reps for Schwarzenegger and Shriver for comment.
Persons: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Mildred Baena, Schwarzenegger, Joseph Baena, Shriver, Maria, ’ ” Schwarzenegger, Joseph ’, , Joseph, , Baena, John, ” Schwarzenegger, “ Arnold ”, Organizations: CNN, Netflix Locations: California
PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) - World number five Stefanos Tsitsipas found little resistance as he disposed of claycourt specialist Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2 on Wednesday to advance to the French Open third round. The fifth seed, who is chasing his first ever Grand Slam, had struggled somewhat in his tournament opener against Jiri Vesely but was in complete control against the 30-year-old Spaniard, cruising to an easy win. He quickly grabbed the initiative, breaking his opponent early, while holding his own serve, to bag the first set. The pair then traded two breaks each in a rollercoaster second set with Carballes Baena trying to lock Tsitsipas in long baseline rallies. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Tsitsipas, Roberto Carballes Baena, Jiri Vesely, Carballes Baena, Karolos, Christian Radnedge Organizations: PARIS, French, Thomson
Unlike after his opening match on Monday, however, there was no message on the camera lens the Serbian signed and the 22-times Grand Slam champion looked to draw a line under the issue. Djokovic missed last year's Australian Open and was deported from the country due to being unvaccinated for COVID. He won the Melbourne title this year despite a row that erupted after his father posed with some fans holding Russian flags. "A drama-free Grand Slam, I don't think it can happen for me," Djokovic added. Anna Blinkova dashed French hopes with a stunning 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory over fifth seed Caroline Garcia, wrapping up victory on her ninth match point.
Persons: Roland Garros, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, Benoit Tessier, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Garcia, Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jiri Vesely, Roberto Carballes Baena, Japan's Taro Daniel, Denis Shapovalov, Ismet Krasniqi, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Elina Svitolina, Australian Storm Hunter, Svitolina, Sabalenka, Iryna Shymanovich, Marta Kostyuk, I've, Jelena Ostapenko, Peyton Stearns, Barbora, Lesia Tsurenko, Swiatek, Suzanne Lenglen, Jessica Pegula, Camila Giorgi, Anna Blinkova, Caroline Garcia, Kokkinakis, Stan Wawrinka, Andrey Rublev, Corentin, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis, Ed Osmond Organizations: Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena REUTERS, Tennis Federation, Serbian, Marton, COVID, Melbourne, Kosovo Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Kosovo's Olympic, International Tennis Federation, Australian Storm, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Kosovo, PARIS, Serbia, Marton Fucsovics, Serbian, Ukrainian, Ukraine
The new non-binary passport was unveiled at an event hosted by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, but it came under immediate criticism by some non-binary activists as confusing gender with sex. Under the new passport policy, non-binary Mexicans who do not identify as either a man or a woman, which are gender categories, can now respond with an "X" on paperwork that asks applicants to choose between male or female, which are biological sex categories. Mexican passports did not previously ask applicants to select gender, only sex. Ebrard, who is seeking the presidential nomination of the leftist Morena party for next year's election, touted the policy as "a quantum leap" for Mexico. But non-binary Mexican activist Alex Orue argued that Ebrard mostly flubbed the attempt at progressive inclusion by blurring the difference between gender and sex.
Potapova upsets Gauff in third-round Miami thriller
  + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
March 25 (Reuters) - Russian Anastasia Potapova produced some of her best tennis to upset American Coco Gauff 6-7(8) 7-5 6-2 in a third-round thriller at the Miami Open on Saturday. "I had this belief in me that I can do this, that I just wanted to fight through and just to show my best tennis and not focus on the score," she told the Tennis Channel. Up 5-2 in the first set, it looked as though it might be an easy day for Potapova. But world number six Gauff turned the tables when she converted break point chances in the ninth and 11th games and closed the tiebreak with a lethal backhand. She failed to earn a single break point as Potapova dropped only one first-serve point and won the final five games.
ATP roundup: Daniel Evans falls in Doha
  + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
February 22 - Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori took down sixth seed Daniel Evans of Great Britain 7-5, 6-4 in their first-round match at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday in Doha. Ruusuvuori fired seven aces and won 29 of 38 first-service points (76.3 percent), holding on for the victory even as Evans saved six of 10 break points and converted both his opportunities to break Ruusuvuori. 7 seed Richard Gasquet of France battled past countryman Laurent Lokoli 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (5). 556 Alves, who had five aces and saved five of nine break points in his tour-level debut before the suspension. Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia and Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru were also winners Tuesday before the rain arrived.
Nadal's injury-plagued defeat in the second round will be another boost for Djokovic, who can grab a record-extending 10th crown as well as the world number one ranking with a title run in Melbourne. "They're just numbers at the end of the day," Djokovic said when asked about the targets in his sights. The 35-year-old's tournament preparation was limited due to a left hamstring injury sustained during his title run in Adelaide, and he conceded he had some concerns before his opening round win. "The great sign was that the longer the match went, the better I felt, the better I moved. "She did great in the slams in the past, and she's very young player, very talented lefty," Garcia said.
MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic soaked up thunderous applause in his first match back at the Australian Open after last year's deportation drama, as the nine-times champion outclassed Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3 6-4 6-0 on Tuesday in a flawless start to his title bid. Returning to Melbourne Park where the prolific Serbian was denied a title defence in 2022 after being sent home amid public fury for not having a COVID-19 vaccination, Djokovic saved three early break points to win the first set as fans sang his name. A heavily strapped left thigh due to a hamstring strain he suffered en route to the Adelaide title proved little hindrance for the 35-year-old who was enjoying his time in front of the Rod Laver Arena crowd as he took the second to double his lead. Striking the ball superbly throughout, Djokovic underlined his credentials as favourite to win the title, which would take him level with holder Rafa Nadal on 22 majors, by wrestling Carballes Baena into submission in a one-sided third set. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Thiem, a finalist at Melbourne Park and U.S. Open champion in 2020, is on the comeback trail after a wrist injury and was able to compete only to a certain extent against the power of the rangy Russian. Thiem was simply unable to get a foothold in the contest and the 25-year-old Rublev, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open in 2021, served out for the match after little more than two hours on court. Tennis Australia on Tuesday morning banned fans from bringing flags of either nation into the Melbourne Park precinct after a Russian tricolour was hung on a bush next to a court where Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl was playing on Monday. "It wasn't that easy a match and I'm super happy to start with a win," said the Belarusian. Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a record-extending 10th title at Melbourne Park against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the final match of the day on Rod Laver Arena.
MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic made his way to Melbourne for the Australian Open unsure about the reception he would receive after being deported before last year's Grand Slam over his unvaccinated status, but forgiving fans said the nine-times champion was welcome again. But 12 months on, fans at Melbourne Park said that they were willing follow the lead of their Adelaide counterparts, who gave Djokovic a rousing reception throughout his title run in a warm-up tournament. "Well I hope everyone makes him feel welcome," Jane Powell, an Adelaide resident attending the year's first Grand Slam, told Reuters TV. Australian Open organisers have said any fans targeting Djokovic, who begins his quest for a 22nd Grand Slam to match Nadal against Roberto Carballes Baena on Tuesday, would be slapped with potential tournament bans. Another Melbourne resident, Leigh Harrison, echoed those views saying Adelaide had shown Melbourne the way forward.
Djokovic resumes quest for perfect 10 at Australian Open
  + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Jan 17 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic was denied the opportunity to win a record-extending 10th Australian Open title last year after his deportation but he returns to Rod Laver Arena holding no grudges when he begins his campaign in Melbourne on Tuesday. Winning the title in Melbourne will also make Djokovic the second player to win one Grand Slam at least 10 times after Nadal's 14 titles at Roland Garros. As Djokovic aims to equal defending champion Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 Grand Slam titles, Ons Jabeur renews her quest for a first when the Tunisian takes on Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek. The pair played two engrossing matches last year at the Stuttgart final and at the U.S. Open where Berrettini triumphed on both occasions. Men's second seed Casper Ruud, runner-up at last year's French Open and U.S. Open, wraps up the night session on Margaret Court Arena against the Czech Republic's Tomas Machac.
Djokovic says deportation drama paved way to success
  + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic said his controversial deportation ahead of last year's Australian Open proved an unlikely catalyst for success in 2022, allowing him to regroup on the practice court before bouncing back with key titles. Back at Melbourne Park after his visa ban was lifted by the Australian government, Djokovic said missing events due to his vaccination stance had renewed his determination on the training court. I mean, you normally, as a professional tennis player on the highest level, don't have much time to really have a longer training block," Djokovic told reporters on Saturday. Djokovic told local broadcaster Nine Network that he felt like "the villain of the world" last year in Melbourne where he was detained at a hotel with asylum-seekers before being deported. Djokovic, who will bid for a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, said he had no choice but to move on from the events of last year.
Second seed Casper Ruud - twice a runner-up on the Grand Slam stage last year - plays Tomas Machac. A pre-tournament practice match between Nick Kyrgios and Djokovic saw tickets sold out in 58 minutes and the pair could potentially meet in a blockbuster quarter-final. Five-times runner-up Andy Murray plays Matteo Berrettini while fifth seed Andrey Rublev meets wildcard Dominic Thiem in other first-round matches. The Polish player could face seventh seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals and third seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. Women's world number two Ons Jabeur will begin her latest attempt to become the first Arab player to claim a Grand Slam singles title when she plays Tamara Zidansek.
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