In a rematch of the 2021 French Open decider, Djokovic swept a victory at Rod Laver Arena to reclaim the world number one ranking and again deny Tsitsipas a maiden major crown.

A video posted to a pro-Russian Australian YouTube account had shown Djokovic's father posing with a man holding a Russian flag with Vladimir Putin's face on it.

Ruud's second-round exit came a day after Djokovic's great rival Rafa Nadal, the top seed, had been evicted after suffering a hip flexor injury that will sideline him for up to two months.

A wincing Nadal suffered a left hip problem midway through his loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena and gloomily played out the match in pain.

The 2021 tournament took place in a biosecure bubble with spectators shut out for several days after an outbreak of the virus in the community.

Kyrgios, ranked 22nd in the world and runner-up at last year's Wimbledon, has not played since October.

Djokovic missed the tournaments last year as well and he was unable to travel to New York in August for the US Open without proof of vaccination.

Current rules require travellers to show proof of full vaccination to board flights to and enter the US.

In an interview with French newspaper L'Equipe at a hotel in Beijing, Peng says: 'I never said anyone had sexually assaulted me in any way.'

It was one of the 35-year-old Spanish warrior's greatest title victories in his 29th Grand Slam final as he won his second Australian Open, 13 years after his first in 2009.

Tournament organisers say Peng's safety was 'our primary concern' after video emerged of security staff appearing to order spectators to remove shirts and a banner in support of the Chinese player.

Djokovic's saga has fuelled global debate over the rights of people who opt not to get vaccinated as governments look to protect the community from the coronavirus pandemic.