Rules in sport are often complex and confusing. This also applies to professional tennis and the draws at tournaments. The Novak Djokovic case could therefore bring a lot of movement to the field of participants in the Australian Open.
at Grand Slam– 128 players take part in tournaments, 32 each (in descending order of the highest points in the world rankings) are so-called seeded players. This gives them a special status in a field and cannot be drawn against each other in the first round. This is to prevent, for example, Rafael Nadal (No. 6) from immediately meeting Daniil Medvedev (No. 2).
Rublev could benefit
Djokovic is number one in the world number one and is at the top of the Tableaus. However, should the Australian government decide to withdraw Djokovic’s visa and thus participate in the Australian Open prevent, it depends on the point in time when this happens with a view to the further course of the tournament.
If the decision is made before the official game and schedule is published – always on the day before the start of the tournament (Monday, January 17th, 2022), then some parts of the Tableaus to be rearranged. Then there would be no new draw, but at least a remarkable move of chairs.
High income for a “Lucky Loser“
In that case, number five in the tournament, Russian Andrej Rublev, would take Djokovic’s top position. In return, the current number 17 on the seeding list, the French Gael Monfils, would move to position five. The 33rd player on the tournament entry list, the Kazakh Alexander Bublick, would then be “seeded” as 33 and receive seed position 17 from Monfils. The player still missing in the field (Djokovic then no longer counts) would be replaced by a so-called “Lucky Loser“replaced.
A “Lucky Loser” is a player who has lost in the run-up to the final of the qualifying round for the main draw and is actually not entitled to participate in the Australian Open had. This player would then move up into the main field and be given a new chance. In addition, he would have an income of 103,000 Australian dollars (approx. 65,000 euros).
Different seeding list for later government decision
However, if the government decision was only made after the official game and schedule were announced, then position one would be taken directly by a “Lucky loser “ occupied – and in the field everything would stay the same.
In the unlikely event that the government decision is only made after a successful first-round match for the Serbian or even later, Djokovic would be treated as if he had withdrawn from the tournament – for example because of an injury. Then it would be next Tableau– Advance opponents to the next round without a fight.
Status: 13.01.2022, 12:13 p.m.