Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggests Novak Djokovic could return to Australian Open next year ‘in the right circumstances’

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has left the door open for Novak Djokovic to compete at next year’s Australian Open despite the tennis superstar facing an automatic three-year ban from entering the country.

The world No. 1 player left Australia late on Sunday after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa, capping days of drama over the country’s COVID-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status.

Under immigration law, Djokovic cannot be granted another visa for three years, unless Australia’s immigration minister accepts there are compelling or compassionate reasons.

“I’m not going to precondition any of that or say anything that would not enable the minister to make the various calls he has to make,” Morrison told 2GB radio on Monday as Djokovic was en route to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“It does go over a three-year period, but there is the opportunity for [a person] to return in the right circumstances, and that will be considered at the time.”

The unanimous ruling by a three-judge Federal Court bench dealt a final blow to Djokovic’s hopes of chasing a record 21st Grand Slam win at the Australian Open, which starts on Monday, dismaying his family and supporters.

In a roller-coaster ride, the world’s top men’s player was first detained by immigration authorities on Jan. 6, ordered released by a court on Jan. 10 and then detained again on Saturday pending Sunday’s court hearing.

Djokovic, 34, said he was extremely disappointed by the ruling but that he respected the court’s decision.

The Serbian player was filmed by Reuters wearing a mask and taking selfies with fans at the arrival gate in Dubai as he waited for his entourage to follow him off the plane.

Djokovic was escorted by airline staff on a terminal buggy to the departure gate for a flight a few hours later to Belgrade. He checked in alone for the six-hour flight.

The saga caused a row between Canberra and Belgrade, with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic calling the court decision “scandalous.”

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Monday that she and Morrison had been in touch with Brnabic during the legal process last week.

“I am absolutely confident that the very positive relationship, bilateral relationship between Australia and Serbia will continue on the strong footing that it currently enjoys,” Payne told reporters.

Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had said Djokovic could be a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amid Australia’s worst coronavirus outbreak.

The Federal Court judges noted their ruling was based on the lawfulness and legality of the minister’s decision but did not address “the merits or wisdom” of the decision. They have yet to release the full reasoning behind their decision.

Australian Open 2022: Norrie stunned, Zverev, Barty and Nadal win – live!

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As the attention in Melbourne Park swiftly shifted from Australia’s legal courts to its tennis courts, the two most successful women’s players over the past few years both took their first steps towards a possible collision in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Naomi Osaka, the defending champion in Melbourne, returned to grand slam competition early in the day by defeating Camila Osorio 6-3, 6-3. The world No 1, Ashleigh Barty, followed her later in the day as she picked Lesia Tsurenko apart 6-0, 6-1 to reach the second round.

Rafael Nadal Breezes Through Australian Open First round

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Rafael Nadal enjoyed a trouble-free opening to his 2022 Australian Open campaign Monday, dismissing World No. 66 American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the second round.

As he sets forth on a mission to win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, the Spaniard will be pleased to have enjoyed a quick stay on court in mild conditions. Nadal improved to 4-0 on the year, having won his 89th title at the Melbourne Summer Set in week one.

Nadal dropped just eight points on his first serve, clubbed 34 winners (including seven aces) to Giron’s 10 and saved both break points he faced to advance after one hour and 49 minutes. He moved with confidence and didn’t’ appear troubled by his past foot injury, although he admitted to some remaining uncertainty.

“It’s been a very challenging few months… tough moments with a lot of doubts – there still are doubts,” Nadal said. “But I am here and I can’t be happier to be back in Australia in this amazing stadium.

“You never know when you come back from injury, which unfortunately I have a lot of experience with, how things will be, so you have to take it day by day. You have to forgive yourself if things aren’t going the proper way.”

The 2009 Australian Open champion is also attempting to become just the second man behind Novak Djokovic to win all four majors at least twice.

He is also trying to become the third man in the Open Era to win the Australian Open after turning 35 after Roger Federer and Ken Rosewall.

Next up for the 20-time Grand Slam champion is the winner of Adelaide International 2 champion Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia and German Yannick Hanfmann.

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka cruises to first-round victory; Rafael Nadal record bid off to perfect start

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(CNN) Reigning Australian Open women’s champion Naomi Osaka said she’s been keeping a journal to document how she’s been feeling before defending her title.

The 25-year-old couldn’t have hoped for a better script for any potential entry she pens for January 17 as she won her opening match 6-3 6-3 against Colombian Camila Osorio on Rod Laver Arena.

Osaka, who is the 13th seed in this year’s draw, raced into a 5-0 lead in the opening set on Monday before some spirited play from 20-year-old Osorio and a few unforced errors allowed her a route into the match.

The Japanese star did eventually manage to clinch the first set. In the second set, Osorio had two early break points but was unable to take advantage.

Osaka broke into a 3-1 lead and a stray Osorio backhand into the net finally gave Osaka the victory to get her title defense off to the perfect start.

Carlos Alcaraz Australian Open 2022 Day One

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Carlos Alcaraz lived up to his status as a first-time Grand Slam seed with a dominant 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Chilean qualifier Alejando Tabilo on Day 1 of the Australian Open Monday.

Strikingly dressed in a sleeveless shirt and all-red kit, the 18-year-old Spaniard’s first-strike tennis proved too much for Tabilo, who was making his second Grand Slam main-draw appearance. In his competitive debut for 2022, Alcaraz put his game and his physique on full display after an offseason of apparent improvement on both fronts.

”I felt really good,” he explained in his post-match presser. “I didn’t expect that this first match was going to be really good for me. I played a great level the first match of the season. Really good feelings… hope the next matches are going to be the same.”

It was a matchup between two players sitting at career-highs in the ATP Rankings, with Alcaraz at No. 31—matching his seed—and Tabilo at No. 135. And the match bore out that gap in the rankings, as Alcaraz comfortably advanced.

On Court 7 at Melbourne Park, the pair traded early breaks before the youngster went on a six-game tear to wrestle away control. The Spaniard’s ascent was built on his typically intense aggression from the baseline, but he masterfully mixed in touch and some well-placed returns in building the lead.

Alcaraz faced just one break point in the match, while breaking seven times in 16 chances of his own. The one-sided nature of the victory underlines his increasing comfort on hard courts.

”I’m starting to get more comfortable on hard court than on clay courts,” he shared. “I think the most tournaments of the year are on hard court, so you have to be ready.”

With his last match coming in his title run at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in November, Alcaraz made the perfect start to what could be a big 2022 season. He enters the new campaign on the heels of a breakout year that also saw him reach the US Open quarter-finals, win his first ATP title (Umag) and break into the ATP’s Top 40 for the first time. Alcaraz started the 2021 season just inside the Top 150.

This season, his goals include reaching the Top 15 and playing in the Nitto ATP Finals.

“It’s a really good goal for me, but so difficult as well,” he told the press.”

In the top quarter of the Australian Open draw—a section ripe with opportunity due to the absence of Novak Djokovic—Alcaraz will take on Dusan Lajovic, who defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-1. Looking one step further, No. 7 seed Matteo Berrettini looms as a potential third-round opponent.

Shapovalov Survives Djere Test

Two weeks after helping Canada win the 2022 ATP Cup, Denis Shapovalov survived an adventure-filled first-round matchup against Croatia’s Laslo Djere on Monday in Melbourne.

After being two points away from a fifth set, the Canadian advanced in four, 7-6(3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3). Djere had an opportunity to serve for both the first and fourth sets, but each time the No. 14 seed denied him in John Cain Arena.

The match looked secure with Shapovalov up 5-2 in the fourth, but Djere sparked to life, winning eight of nine points to get back on serve. The Canadian created a match point on the return at 4-5, but soon found himself down 6-5, needing a break just to stay in the set.

“I felt like the fourth set was slipping away from me after that set point,” Shapovalov said in his on-court interview, “but I’m very happy with the outcome.”

The opening set was its own rollercoaster. The No. 14 seed dropped serve in the match’s opening game and needed to save two set points to force the tie-break. It was one-way traffic from there, until Djere reasserted himself by winning the first three games of set three.

“He did a great dob to come back from two sets to none,” Shapovalov added. “He changed his tactics, tried to go for it more and was very tricky.”

In the end, using what he called the “Rafa mentality” of fighting for each point, the 22-year-old found just enough big forehands and big serves to avoid a fifth set. The victory marks his first Slam win under new coach Jamie Delgado.

Next up for the Canadian is South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon, who edged past Holger Rune 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.