Australian Open 2022: Main Draw Includes Djokovic Amid Wait For His Visa Decision By Hosts

Australian Open 2022: The ongoing visa issue for the Serbian has been a real threat to the Australian Open organisers who are contemplating his stay in Australia after visa row.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia takes part in a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 13, 2022. | AFP

Australian Open 2022: The much-talked-about season's first Grand Slam, Australian Open, is now witnessing another twist as the main draw ahead of the scheduled tournament saw a long delay and later included World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in its main draw.

Media reports claim that the draw at the expected time was averted by authorities keeping in view that World No. 1 Novak Djokovic may not be available for the tournament.

However, after a delay in the main draw, the Australian Open organisers planned to go ahead with Djokovic included in it as the world's number one seed amid continued wait on the Australian government's decision regarding his visa.

BREAKING: Novak Djokovic included in #AusOpen draw pic.twitter.com/CsfUS6Lh1s

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 13, 2022

The ongoing visa issue for the Serbian has been a real threat to the Australian Open organisers who are contemplating his stay in Australia after visa row.

The unvaccinated 20-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic recently admitted that he had tested covid positive in December ahead of his travel to Australia. Paperwork in his visa application, which he blamed his agent for filling out wrongly, did not specify his isolation details in the last 14 days.