Djokovic draws bit of hope

IF he can topple Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, only seven men stand between Novak Djokovic and tennis immortality.

But in a rare spot of good news for the world No.1, after a week from hell, Djokovic was handed a favourable path to a record-setting 21st grand slam title as several cards fell his way in Thursday’s Australian Open draw.

Avoiding fierce rival, and fellow 20-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal and Germany’s Olympic champion, and third seed, Alexander Zverev until the semi-finals, Djokovic’s first major test awaits in the form of Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini.

But even that should be a welcome result for the Serbian superstar, who owns a 4-0 record over Berrettini at ATP level, while he has an even more formidable record against potential fourth-round opponent Gael Monfils.

The pair have faced off 17 times at tour level and the Frenchman has never gotten the better of Djokovic – making him little more of a threat than first-round opponent and fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic and likely second-round scalp Tommy Paul.

In truth, the biggest hurdle facing Djokovic is one no player in grand slam history has faced before – that of Immigration Minister Hawke, and the potential for his visa to be ripped up again before he even sets foot on centre court in front of Australian Open fans.

And even if he overcomes that drama, his former coach Boris Becker expressed his concerns about the horrendous preparation – saying the 34-year-old was “shell-shocked” by having to spend five days in immigration detention as part of his preparation for the opening slam of the year.

“Obviously his preparation is beyond bad. I don’t think he’s ever been in a worse position entering the week before a grand slam, but that’s just the way it is,” Becker told the BBC after speaking to the Serbian star on Monday.