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Australian Open: Djokovic start remains uncertain

The defending champion’s opening match should take place on Monday or Tuesday, it said. Djokovic had already trained in the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday after a court overturned the expulsion ordered by the border authorities. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke could still expel the Serbian vaccine skeptic from the country.

According to information from the newspaper “The Age”, this decision will no longer be made on Thursday. Hawke will not decide until midnight whether or not the Serb’s visa will be canceled, the newspaper reported, citing government sources.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday that Hawke was still considering exercising his personal rights and revoking the world’s number one visa. “These are personal ministerial powers that Secretary Hawke can use, and I will not comment on them at this time,” said Morrison.

AP/Mark Baker

Despite the uncertain situation, Djokovic is preparing for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year

Days of tug-of-war

On Wednesday it became known that new information from the 34-year-old Serb’s lawyers had postponed the timeframe for Hawkes’ decision. It is still not known when, after days of tug-of-war over the Serbian visa, it will finally be clear.

Djokovic himself admitted on Wednesday that he had given false information to the Australian immigration authorities. There was also confusion about a positive coronavirus test in mid-December. Djokovic admitted that he had done an interview with a French sports newspaper after the positive test result was available. Djokovic presented the positive coronavirus test as a reason why he had not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Australia generally only allows people who have been vaccinated twice to enter the country. Djokovic had already been held up at the airport last week on arrival and initially taken to a deportation hotel because the border officials did not have enough documents for his medical exemption. Djokovic successfully defended himself against the decision in court. Hawke has the final say. Djokovic has already won the Australian Open nine times.

50 percent fewer viewers

Due to rising coronavirus numbers in the Australian state of Victoria, the regional government in Melbourne has announced that it will limit the number of spectators at the Australian Open to 50 percent of capacity. All tickets sold to date will remain valid, the government assured on Thursday. According to the newspaper “The Age”, no more than half of the tickets have been sold for any game in the tournament, which starts on Monday.

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