Following a less-than-stellar start to his 2015 season, it appears that a flu may hamper world No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s start at the Australian Open. Djokovic is scheduled to face qualifier Aljaz Bedene, whom he has never faced previously on the professional tour.

This issue with the flu caused Djokovic to cancel a training session on the eve of the Aussie Open, which only served to worry pundits and adoring fans. The Serbian had withdrawn from the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships with an illness but claims to be better now and prepared for the task at hand.

“I had a tough couple of days, it’s all behind me now,” Djokovic said on Sunday. “It was a little bit of a cold, and flu, stomach … maybe carried that from the Middle East, but now it’s passed.”

World No. 116 Aljaz Bedene earned three wins last week to qualify for the Australian Open where he will now face the former champion and top seed at the event in his opening main draw match-up.

“I don’t know much,” Djokovic said of his upcoming opponent. “Honestly I know he’s from Slovenia. I watched him play a little bit in Chennai, I think semifinals. I’ve seen he’s a baseline player. Good, solid, two-handed backhand. Obviously he’s going to be very motivated to perform well. If we get to play on center court, I’m sure it’s going to be a unique experience for him. He’s got nothing to lose.”

This marks the first time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour and will certainly be a relatively straightforward affair for Djokovic.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic in Straight Sets