Australian Open: What happens to the draw if Novak Djokovic is withdrawn?
A decision is yet to come through from Australia’s Minister of Immigration as to whether or not Novak Djokovic, nine-time Australian Open champion, will be allowed to defend his title.
Novak Djokovic practices on Margaret Court Arena ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. AP Photo/Mark Baker)
There was a delay, but the Australian Open Draw ceremony on Thursday eventually did take place. The two draws of 128 were slotted in the men’s and women’s singles categories, and yes, Novak Djokovic’s name was among them. He will play fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
A decision is yet to come through from Australia’s Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke as to whether or not the top-seeded Serb and nine-time champion will be allowed to defend his title. But organisers already have in place the guidelines to change the draw should Djokovic be forced to withdraw.
What would’ve happened if Djokovic had withdrawn before the draw?
Though this option is no longer possible since the draw is already made, should first seed Djokovic have withdrawn earlier, then the seeds would simply move up the ladder. Daniil Medvedev, the second seed, would become the top seed, third seed Alexander Zverev would go up to two, fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas would become the third seed, and so on. The new 32nd seed would then become the highest ranked unseeded player competing at the Australian Open. Generally this would be the World No 33, but since World Nos 15 and 16, Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer respectively, are not playing, and if Djokovic was out of the picture, the last seeded player would be No 35 Alexander Bublik.
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