Australian Open: Novak Djokovic’s latest injury scare a massive blow for scrambling tournament organisers

Australian Open officials are bracing for the embattled tournament’s biggest blow yet, with an injury scare for leading draw-card Novak Djokovic adding to a host of high-profile players pulling out.

The controversial Serbian star has dominated headlines since landing in Australia 12 months after he was deported over a vaccine-related visa dispute, but could now miss the tournament for a second-straight year.

Djokovic limped off the court with a hamstring injury just over half-an-hour into a scheduled 75-minute practice match with Daniil Medvedev in a massive scare for tournament organisers hanging their hat on his pursuit of a 10th Australian Open title.

It also puts the nine-time winner’s sold-out showdown with Australian bombshell Nick Kyrgios in jeopardy, just two days out from what was meant to be a blockbuster clash between two of the sport’s most polarising figures.

Djokovic’s injury puts a serious cloud over the strength of this year’s draw, with a spate of retirements leaving the sport bereft of highly marketable talent, despite Australian Open boss Craig Tiley’s bizarre comments that this year’s field is one of the strongest yet.

Last year’s winner Ash Barty shocked the world when she retired early last year and leaves the Open without a genuine local hope in the women’s draw.

Serena Williams also retired after the US Open, her sister Venus handed back her wildcard entry and two-time winner Naomi Osaka will join them on the sidelines after a mysterious withdrawal.

Angelique Kerber is also among the former Grand Slam champions not playing at the season’s first major.

Swiss legend and one of Australia’s favourite stars, Roger Federer, left a gaping hole in men’s tennis when he walked away last year and the man touted as the sport’s next big thing, world No. 1 and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, is out injured.

“I’m also proud of the fact that this year is our best field,” Tiley claimed this week.

“As far as the entries go, every single player - we’ve had a few pull-outs as you know from injury but this is our best field we’ve had both on the men and the women.

“And I think it’s because a lot of the players are using their protected rankings from during COVID when they didn’t play as much.”

Djokovic’s sparring match with Medvedev ended after the Russian US Open winner claimed the first set 6-4 in just 36 minutes, with the hamstring tightness he battled with to win last week’s Adelaide International 1 still with him in Melbourne.

A physio worked on the 35-year-old’s right knee in an effort to loosen the hamstring.

Djokovic first received treatment while leading 3-2 and only won one game after that point, receiving the same work again at different points in the lone set.

Spanish veteran Pablo Andujar stepped in for Medvedev, who is now firming as one of the favourites for the tournament after last year’s final loss to Rafael Nadal.