Djokovic Drawn to Play vs Kecmanovic in Australian Open's First Round Despite Visa Controversy

© REUTERS / SUSANA VERASerbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his match against Croatia's Marin Cilic
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his match against Croatia's Marin Cilic  - Sputnik International, 1920, 13.01.2022
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Tennis No 1 Novak Djokovic was detained at Melbourne Airport and has been held in hotel quarantine since 6 January because he had not been vaccinated.
Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has been drawn for the first round, despite an uncertain situation regarding his visa. He will face fellow Serbian player Miomir Kecmanovic.
The draw for the tournament was previously postponed due to uncertainty over Djokovic's visa status. It was initially expected to take place at 3 p.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT) in Melbourne, but the organisers notified the press about the delay. The event was later scheduled for 4:15 p.m. local time.
Djokovic, who is a nine-time Australian Open champion, arrived in the country last week to participate in the tournament, which kicks off on Monday. However, his visa was cancelled when his vaccination exemption was questioned.
© AFP 2023 / JOE KLAMARSerbia's Novak Djokovic serves the ball to Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff (not pictured) during the men's singles group stage match between Serbia and Germany of the Davis Cup tennis tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on November 27, 2021
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves the ball to Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff (not pictured) during the men's singles group stage match between Serbia and Germany of the Davis Cup tennis tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on November 27, 2021 - Sputnik International, 1920, 13.01.2022
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves the ball to Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff (not pictured) during the men's singles group stage match between Serbia and Germany of the Davis Cup tennis tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on November 27, 2021
The tennis player has since won a legal battle, as a federal district court in Melbourne overturned the Australian government's decision to revoke his visa. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, however, is still considering whether to use his personal power to deport Djokovic on public interest grounds.
The situation is also complicated by Djokovic's travel declaration: the player has acknowledged it contained incorrect information, as the tennis star failed to declare that he had travelled to another country over the two-week period before coming to Australia. He stressed, however, it was just a "human error" made by his team.
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