Shuffle to three sets on the cards
AUSTRALIAN Open men’s players are discussing the option of throwing out history for one year and making the grand slam a best-of-three-sets format.
Japan’s Taro Daniel, who is set to compete at Melbourne Park as a ‘lucky loser’, wasn’t the instigator of the idea but wants event director Craig Tiley to give it serious thought.
Daniel is one of 72 players so far confined to hotel rooms without the option of leaving for his fortnight of hard quarantine, because of positive COVID-19 cases on their charter flights.
The world No.117, who boasts a career-high ranking of 64, has only a foam roller at this stage for fitness purposes – and understands equipment like exercise bikes are going to be at a premium.
“A few players came up with the idea to bring it down to three sets this time, which I think would make a lot of sense,” Daniel said.
“Because even for guys who are able to train these two weeks, it’s not optimal training. You’re limited to two hours a day and one hour of gym – so five sets would be pretty brutal.
“I think Craig’s aware of it and I’m sure he’s thought of it himself, but then there’s the whole historical, five-set thing they need to break down.
“I have no idea if they’ll be able to do it or not, but I think perhaps they should.”
Daniel said the coronavirus crisis was exacerbating the chasm between the game’s elite and the rest, pointing to the comparative luxuries of the players quarantining in Adelaide.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka and Serena and Venus Williams are in South Australia for the January 29 exhibition tournament.
“People in Adelaide are being able to hit with four people on court, so there’s some resentment,” Daniel said.
Watching news vision from afar of citizens being arrested for not wearing a mask meant Daniel was more prepared than other players for the strict protocols.
That’s why Daniel has few expectations of TA or the Victorian Government giving the green light to a ‘bubble within a bubble’, where hard quarantined players who tested negative could train together.
He is so far staying positive about his predicament, but fears he won’t be as upbeat towards the end of quarantine.