It seems like only yesterday that tennis took over the mainstream media channels across the globe thanks to Novak Djokovic's attempts to get in the Australia for the first Grand Slam of the year.
The first big controversy of 2022 dominated both the front and back pages of newsrooms worldwide as Djokovic was refused entry into the country due to his vaccination status, meaning he was unable to defend his cherished Australian Open crown.
But the 21-time major champion bounced back to win his seventh Wimbledon title before again being unable to compete at a slam when US government officials denied him the chance to play the US Open in New York.
It all meant for long spells spent away from the tour for Djokovic, who didn't step on to a competitive tennis court for nearly three months after his Wimbledon triumph.
But he was his usual imperious self during title wins in Astana and Tel Aviv and nearly claimed his seventh Paris Masters title before he lost in the final to Holger Rune.
Former professional Alex Corretja has been watching how Djokovic has coped with all the noise around him and, speaking ahead of the ATP Finals in Turin - where the Serb will look to win his first Finals since 2015 - the Spanish Eurosport correspondent says he has been impressed with the player.
He said: "I mean, Novak's season has been like a mess, and he's been dealing with it, I think, extremely well. I'm very impressed by the way he's been handling the whole situation. Every time he's on court, he's winning.
“And I'm sure he's been suffering so much because he loves tennis as much as all the others, but because of the circumstances, he decided that he didn't want to go through some situations and sacrificed some of the bigger events of the tennis world.
“And especially since he's been bidding to become the greatest of the whole history at the end of their careers when they retire.
“He's been for me an example of superiority because every time he plays, he's almost winning.
“And also, when you don't play that much, then it's difficult to get the rhythm, but he's been just winning almost every time he plays the tournament.
“So, it's been quite an amazing season from Novak, and I only hope that for next season he could play all the tournaments and all the events, because that would be extremely good for him."
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