In his first tournament in Australia since being deported from the country last January, Djokovic beat American Sebastian Korda in an epic three-set thriller at Memorial Drive in Sunday’s final.

Djokovic produced a nerveless overhead smash while moving backwards to save Championship point during the second set, and he was cool as ice late in the match to seal the contest 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in three hours and eight minutes.

The 21-time grand slam champion will spend this week practising – and possibly playing a friendly against Australian Nick Kyrgios – before attempting to win a 10th Australian Open crown.

Djokovic said he loved his experience in Adelaide, and feels the tournament was the perfect preparation for the first major of the year.

“Absolutely. Five great matches,” he said.

“The second round it was 7-6, 7-6 – tough two tiebreakers against (Quentin) Halys, who is playing very well.

“Then I had (Denis) Shapovalov, (Daniil) Medvedev and Korda, who is on fire, playing some high-level tennis, striking the ball amazingly.

“I couldn’t ask for a better preparation and lead-up to Australian Open.

“I have a week off for recovery now and working on specific things in terms of my game, my body, getting my mind in the right state for the best-of-five and two long weeks hopefully.”

The only hiccup Djokovic faced during the week was a hamstring scare in his semi-final win over Medvedev.

The 35-year-old revealed he’d worked “deep into the night” with his physio after the match and was able to shake off the niggle in time for the final the following day.

“It was all right,” Djokovic said, adding that he’s confident it won’t affect him at the Australian Open.

“There were a few times in the match I felt was tightening up, the muscle, but nothing that would worry me for my performance.”

Djokovic’s tournament win in Adelaide was also an important step towards putting the dramas of last January behind him.

The Serbian became worldwide news when he was deported from Australia for refusing to have the COVID-19 vaccine.

Djokovic says he holds no ill feelings towards Australia.

“I don’t hold any grudges,” he said.

“I told you I had far many more positive experiences in Australia to throw that away just because of what happened last year.

“I feel very comfortable with people, normal people, that follow sport, that I encounter on an everyday basis.

“I haven’t had any negative experience so far. So every person that I met, whether it’s in the city or in the woods – I actually met a few kangaroos as well, had a chat with them – everyone was very kind, very supportive.

“So there is no reason for me to feel differently than what I’m receiving from them.”

In the women’s final, world No.5 Aryna Sabalenka banished her serving demons from last year by defeating 18-year-old qualifier Linda Noskova.

Sabalenka was reduced to tears in the Adelaide tournament last year when her service game fell apart in her three-set loss to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson.

The 24-year-old lost so much confidence during that match that she resorted to serving underarm at one point.

But it was a far different story on Sunday, with Sabalenka’s serve proving a major weapon in her 6-3 7-6 (7-4) triumph.

-AAP