After about 12 hours of speculation and even delays, Novak Djokovic is officially in the Australian Open draw. Will he stay there is another matter.

All day there was talk the Serb would be pulled from the tournament. Just minutes before the 3pm draw and shortly after a Djokovic finished a practice, the event abruptly postponed the ceremony without explanation.

Even more ominous was the news the Australian PM was set to speak some 45 minutes later. But his news conference came and went without a statement on Djokovic, and the Australian draw got underway at 4:15pm.

Djokovic drew his countryman Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round. He could face Tommy Paul in the second, Lorenzo Sonego or Sam Querrey in the third, with Cristian Garin or Gael Monfils in the fourth and his Wimbledon final foe Matteo Berrettini in the quarters.

Djokovic, who is seeking a 10th Australian Open title and record-breaking 21st Grand Slam crown, is projected to meet either Alexander Zverev or Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.

Second favorite Daniil Medvedev is in the bottom half. He could face Nick Kyrgios in the second round, Ugo Humber (who he is 0-2 against) in the third with Andrey Rublev in the quarters. Casper Ruud, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas could be semifinal opponents.

But for now, Djokovic is the top seed and he will stay that way unless the government so chooses.