Novak Djokovic will play the first round of the Australian Open in tennis despite the uncertainty about the visa.
The Serbian tennis player was drawn against his compatriot Kecmanovic, but uncertainties remain regarding the visa.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government has not yet decided whether to cancel the champion's permission to enter the country. The previous statement by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke that he is considering canceling the visa "has not changed," the premier reiterated.
The 34-year-old world number one's first game will be played on Monday or Tuesday. Should Djokovic be deported (yesterday Nole admitted that he violated his isolation in Serbia by granting a positive interview and lied about travel in the previous 14 days upon entering Australia), his place will be assigned to a "Lucky looser", or a tennis player who lost in the qualifiers.
But even if Djiokovic was allowed to play, many question his form ahead of a tough two-week tournament after the tensions of these days and four nights spent in a detention center.
(Unioneonline / L)
