With Djokovic deported, Australian Open announce new schedule; Maria Sakkari plays today

Following the shock deportation of the world's best player, Novak Djokovic, from Australia, after the rejection of his request for a judicial review of his second visa cancellation, Australian Open officials rushed to re-schedule the order of play for the gland slam event which commences today, Monday 17 January 2022.

Greek tennis star Maria Sakkari is one of the players to kick off the Australian Open, playing today against Germany's Tatjana Maria in the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.

Order of play on the main show courts on the first day of the Australian Open on Monday (play begins at 0000 GMT, prefix number denotes seeding):

ROD LAVER ARENA:

Tatjana Maria (Germany) v 5-Maria Sakkari (Greece)

Camila Osorio (Colombia) v 13-Naomi Osaka (Japan)

Not before 0300 GMT

Marcos Giron (U.S.) v 6-Rafa Nadal (Spain)

Not before 0800 GMT

1-Ash Barty (Australia) v Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine)

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Miomir Kecmanovic (Serbia)

MARGARET COURT ARENA

Fiona Ferro (France) v 15-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)

Brandon Nakashima (U.S.) v 7-Matteo Berrettini (Italy)

Wang Qiang (China) v 18-Coco Gauff (U.S.)

Not before 0800 GMT

3-Alexander Zverev (Germany) v Daniel Altmaier (Germany)

Ajla Tomljanovic (Australia) v 8-Paula Badosa (Spain)

JOHN CAIN ARENA

Laslo Djere (Serbia) v 14-Denis Shapovalov (Canada)

10-Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) v Egor Gerasimov (Belarus)

Not before 0600 GMT

11-Sofia Kenin (U.S.) v Madison Keys (U.S.)

Not before 0800 GMT

Feliciano Lopez (Spain) v John Millman (Australia)