Djokovic in Australian Open draw despite visa uncertainty
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic will face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of his Australian Open title defence, if he is allowed to play.
Djokovic’s visa status dominated attention until the moment the draw was conducted on Thursday, after a postponement of 75 minutes. The Australian immigration minister is still considering whether to deport the nine-time and defending Australian Open champion, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Men’s World No.1 Djokovic had his visa cancelled on arrival in Melbourne last week when his vaccination exemption was rejected, but won a legal battle on procedural grounds that has allowed him to stay in the country. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has been considering the question since a judge reinstated Djokovic’s visa on Monday.
If he is allowed to stay, Djokovic’s bid for a men’s record 21st major title could mean a quarter-final against No.7-ranked Matteo
Berrettini and possibly a semi-final against Rafael Nadal or third-seeded Alexander Zverev.
Daniil Medvedev, who ended Djokovic’s run at a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2021 with the triumph in New York, is on the opposite end of the draw as the No.2 seed. A finalist here last year, the Russian could meet local favourite Nick Kyrgios in the second round, and No.5 Andrey Rublev, No.9 Felix Auger-Aliassime and John Isner
in his quarter of the draw. He is seeded to meet No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
On the women’s side, topranked Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Naomi Osaka ended up in the same section of the draw, meaning two of the best players in the tournament could meet in a fourth-round match. After that, No.5 Maria Sakkari or No. 9 Ons Jabeur could be waiting in the quarter-finals.
French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and No.8 Paula Badosa are in the same half of the draw, along with 2020 champion Sofia Kenin, who has a tough opener against fellow American Madison Keys and could meet No.18 Coco Gauff in the third round.
In the other half of the draw, No.2 Aryna Sabalenka has a first-round meeting against wild-card entry Storm Sanders and is seeded to WTA Finals winner
If he is allowed to stay, Novak Djokovic could compete in a quarter-final against No.7-ranked Matteo Berrettini and possibly a semi-final against Rafael Nadal or third-seeded Alexander Zverev
Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals. The draw ceremony was delayed amid uncertainty over Djokovic’s visa status.
It was scheduled to be held at 3 pm local time, but a tournament official told media that the ceremony had been delayed until further notice and declined to comment. Tournament director Craig Tiley declined to answer questions about Djokovic after the draw.