Lucky loser Caruso takes Djoko’s spot in draw

Italy’s Salvatore Caruso, who was the runner-up in the men’s singles qualifying tournament, has taken Novak Djokovic’s spot in the Australian Open draw as a ‘lucky loser’ to play Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic today.

The winner of that match will advance to the second round to face the winner of unseeded American Tommy Paul and unseeded Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Caruso is now guaranteed a payday of about US$74,000 for making the first round and losing.

Whoever makes it to the second round is guaranteed $110,000.

Djokovic’s name is blanked out on the draw display at Melbourne Park.
Peter Rowe

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