Australian Open LIVE Updates – Novak Djokovic’s visa cancelled- World No.1 Novak Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Australia decided to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa following a legal battle over the tennis superstar’s arrival in the country without a COVID-19 vaccine, the Federal Court announced on Sunday. Follow AO2022 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
With just a few hours left for the final showdown, he is likely to give a walkover to fellow Serbian counterpart M Kecmaovic in the opening contest. It remains unclear whether his lawyers will be given a chance to appeal his decision.
Australian Open LIVE Updates: Novak Djokovic leaves Australia, ‘lucky loser’ Salvatore Caruso replaces World No.1- Follow AO2022 LIVE Updates
14:08 PM: The top quarter of the draw has now been thrown wide open, with Djokovic set to be replaced by a ‘lucky loser’ from the qualifying phase and with seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini left as the highest seed in the section, reported Reuters. Salvatore Caruso replaces Djokovic. He won 2/3 Qualifying matches at Aus Open 2022.
#BREAKING Australia decided to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa following a legal battle over the tennis superstar’s arrival in the country without a COVID-19 vaccine, the Federal Court announced on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/3xe8YP7PtR
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) January 16, 2022
10:45 AM IST: Novak Djokovic included in Day 1 Order of Play.
Novak Djokovic vs M Kecmanovic (Rod Laver Arena)
Naomi Osaka vs C Osorio (Rod Laver Arena)
Rafael Nadal vs M Giron (Rod Laver Arena)
Ash Barty vs Lesia Tsurenko (Rod Laver Arena)
Matteo Berrettini vs B Nakashima (Margaret Court Arena)
Coco Gauff vs Q Wang (Margaret Court Arena)
Alexander Zverev vs D Altmaier (Margaret Court Arena)
Barbora Kejcikova vs A Petkovic (Kia Arena)
#AusOpen Order of Play – Monday 17 January ➡️ https://t.co/snv6OMoJcD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2022
How AO2022 Draws be affected? If Djokovic is ruled out of the tournament after the order of play has been released, it would mean he would be replaced by a lucky loser, rather than the seedings being revised.
Should Djokovic be ruled out, it would mean an enormous opening in the top half of the draw.
Monday’s order of play will be released at 4pm.#AusOpen
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2022
Under the provisions spelt out in the ITF Grand Slam rule book, the Australian Open could have reshuffle the draw should a withdrawal occured before 11am on Saturday – but that is not the case anymore.
The draws can’t be RESHUFFLED now. Now Djokovic can only be replaced by a lucky loser, rather than the seedings being revised.
Under the ITF provisions, any players seeded between the first and fourth spots who withdraw would be replaced by the fifth seed.
The tournament would go ahead without a No.1 seed.
Furthermore, the fifth seed’s slot would be filled by the 17th seed, a position currently held by Frenchman Gael Monfils. Alexander Bublik would become the 33rd seed and fill the spot on the draw sheet held by Monfils.
Rublev told Russian news outlet TASS before the visa revocation that the situation was far from ideal.
“None of us would want to get into such a situation,” he said.
“I can only shrug my shoulders and regret that instead of tennis, everyone is discussing these things.”
