MELBOURNE, Australia —
Novak Djokovic's
hopes of defending his
Australian Open title are in severe doubt after he was
detained again in Melbourne on Saturday, just two days before the start of the
Grand Slam.
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It came after Australian authorities ripped
up his visa for a second time and declared the unvaccinated world number one a
threat to the public because of his views about being jabbed.
A federal court hearing is scheduled for
Sunday as the Serbian fights against deportation.
AFP Sport looks at where it leaves the
Australian Open:
Is Djokovic still in the draw?
The 34-year-old is chasing a record-breaking
21st Grand Slam, which would make him the most successful men's tennis player
in history. He was named the top seed and remains in the draw to face fellow
Serbian
Miomir Kecmanovic, ranked 78th in the world, in the first round on
Monday. He would be expected to play on Rod Laver Arena, the biggest venue at
Melbourne Park.
What happens if he is deported?
If he is deported, the Australian Open will
be missing its defending champion. It does not massively change the draw, but
it would need to be reconfigured. According to the rules, the most likely
outcome would be that the fifth seed, in this case Russia's
Andrey Rublev,
takes Djokovic's place. In terms of favorites for the championship, Djokovic's
absence would see second seed Daniil Medvedev in pole position along with
20-time Grand Slam champion
Rafael Nadal.
Roger Federer is injured and not
there.
And if he plays?
Of all his Slam achievements, winning the
crown this time would be the most extraordinary of all, given Djokovic's badly
disrupted build-up including several nights in a detention center. If he plays
he will also need to defy a hostile crowd — his actions have made him public
enemy number one in a city which endured one of the longest
COVID-19 lockdowns
in the world.
What has the Australian Open said?
Tennis Australia, which organizes the Grand
Slam, has refused to get involved publicly as the saga has dragged on. TA has
been accused of misleading players over the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for
entering the country. Australian media has called on tournament chief Craig
Tiley — who has also largely kept stum — to quit.
What does the tournament do now?
Not a lot, it sits and waits like everyone
else for Sunday's court hearing. Paul McNamee, a former Australian Open
tournament director, said that the so-called 'Happy Slam' was in
"limbo".
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