Punters still supporting Novak to win Open

Bookies have the World No. 1 at odds of 17/10 just behind Russian Daniil Medvedev, who is being backed as the favourite with odds of 7/5.

Yesterday, Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelled Djokovic’s visa, which has sparked renewed legal battle just days out from the start of the Australian Open.

After a preliminary hearing last night, Djokovic will meet with government officials at 8am today, where he will be formally detained.

A final hearing is expected to take place on Sunday morning.

Despite this, the Serbian is still considered more likely to win the Australian Open then others in the Men’s Singles draw, including Alexander Zverev (13/5), Rafael Nadal (8/1), Stefanos Tsitsipas (14/1) and Andrey Rublev (17/1).

Djokovic has drawn fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic, who is ranked 78th in the world, in the first round of the Australia Open, a match he is still overwhelmingly favoured to win despite his precarious visa position. For a $10 wager on Djokovic in this match, punters will only get $10.20 back. While for the same $10 wager, a bet on Kecmanovic will return you $190 with Bet365.

If Djokovic is allowed to play in the Australian Open he could face a quarterfinal against No. 7-ranked Matteo Berrettini and possibly a semi-final against Rafael Nadal or third-seeded Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic is currently tied with Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 Grand Slam titles, meaning that winning the Australian Open would give him a record-setting 21st grand slam title.

Even if he is on court at Melbourne Park next week he will face tough competition, especially with the bookies’ favourite, Medvedev, who ended Djokovic’s run at a calendar-year grand slam at the US Open last year with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 straight sets win.

Medvedev, who is the No. 2 seed, was a finalist at last year’s Australian Open but was beaten convincingly by Djokovic in straight sets (7-5, 6-2, 6-2).