The draw for the Australian Open tennis Grand Slam was delayed for 75 minutes Thursday with the participation of world number one Novak Djokovic under threat over a visa saga.
“We’ve had a delay,” a Tennis Australia spokesperson told AFP after the draw for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, originally scheduled for 3:00 pm (0400 GMT) at Melbourne Park, did not take place.
Organisers later said it would begin at 4:15 pm, with no explanation given for the hold-up.
Top seed Djokovic is looking to clinch a 10th title at Melbourne Park and a record 21st Grand Slam crown, but it remains to be seen if he will be deported.
Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal, seeded six, is also targeting a 21st Slam title.
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty is the women’s top seed.
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