Novak Djokovic wasn’t due to practice today until 2:45pm (AEDT), but as these pictures show he has already been out and about at Melbourne Park this morning.
As he waits for a decision from Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, the world No.1 changed his practice time to 9:30am, perhaps anticipating that he might have other matters to attend to this afternoon, namely a meeting with his legal team.
Djokovic has been drawn to face fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanović in the opening round of the Australian Open, but uncertainty still surrounds his participation, as we await an announcement from Mr Hawke’s office.
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If Djokovic pulls out before Sunday, fifth seed Andrey Rublev would take his spot in the draw, while a Lucky Loser (a player beaten in qualifying) would get a spot if Djokovic pulls out after the Order of Play is announced on Sunday afternoon.
According to former Australian Davis Cup player Sam Groth, the ongoing saga is starting to affect other members of the playing group.
“Whichever way it goes a decision has to be made,” Groth told Nine’s Today.
“It’s starting to affect the players, the way they prepare, yesterday they were waiting around an extra hour to find out who they play.
“Novak’s opponent, Miomir Kecmanovic, he doesn’t know whether he’s going to play Novak, or a Lucky Loser, or Andrey Rublev.”
Regardless of how this plays out, Groth says the build-up to the Australian Open has been far from ideal for the nine-time champion.
“It has to have had an impact,” he said.
“Even spending the time in the immigration hotel, he wasn’t able to get out and practice, he wasn’t able to eat the way he normally does.
“Mentally it’s a huge distraction, I think Tennis Australia is going to great lengths to keep him protected, playing practice sets, practice matches behind closed doors.
“It’s certainly a different way for him to prepare, something he’s never gone through, something he would never have expected to go through.
“I think Novak has gone about this all the wrong way. It’s a distraction he doesn’t need, but it’s a distraction everybody involved with the tournament didn’t need.”
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