Djokovic lets mask slip again
Sympathy has rarely turned to disdain with such speed as it has in Australia, where the ``poor me’’ attitude of the world’s tennis players has incensed residents and politicians alike.
Before going any further, it should be pointed out that the majority of the 370-odd players who arrived in Melbourne over the weekend have got on quietly with their business – even if that business entails bouncing tennis balls off their walls and windows as they begin 14 days of hard quarantine.
But it takes only a few ``flogs’’ – a typically vivid Australian term for plonkers – to tar all the others with the same brush of arrogance and entitlement. In the words of Arina Rodionova, the world No 169 who lives in Melbourne: ``Actually embarrassed to be a tennis player these days. If anyone asks, I am a full-time gardener and a cleaner on the weekends.’’
So, who has dropped the biggest clanger, once again showcasing his talent for striking the wrong tone in any given situation? You guessed it: world No 1 Novak Djokovic. Yes, it is Djokovic: the man who still thinks he represents the locker room, despite the invisibility of his breakaway player union. The man who has spoken out against vaccinations and who helped assemble the embarrassingly bio-insecure Adria Tour last summer.
Djokovic’s latest stunt is to send Tennis Australia a six-point list of suggestions about how to ease the plight of the 72 players in hard quarantine. It began sensibly enough, with requests for fitness equipment in all rooms and ``decent food’’. But he then suggested that TA should ``reduce the days of isolation’’. This would be a decision for a scientist, one might think. At least, that is if one believed in science.
Then came the pie` ce de re´ sistance – a reminder that Djokovic’s impression of the world outside his gated mansion could do with a little reality check. ``Move as many players as possible to private houses with a court to train.’’
Leaving aside the amusing idea that there are dozens of such properties available, does Djokovic have any idea why the players are being cooped up in their quarantine hotels in the first place? With security guards on each floor and Victorian state police ready to apply A$20,000 ($21,600) fines to anyone who so much as opens their door?
Australia has taken a much harder line on Covid than virtually any other tennis-playing nation. The result is that fewer than 1000 people nationwide have died, and only around 28,000 have been infected. And then there was the hypocrisy. Even Stan Wawrinka, a regular practice partner, could not stomach the fact that Djokovic was writing his letter from Adelaide – where he has been filmed happily buzzing about in a shuttle bus with no mask. The handful of elite players based in Adelaide have been permitted more generous training schedules and unlimited entourages, by comparison with the two support-staff members allowed in Melbourne.
``From Adelaide?’’ Wawrinka tweeted. ``Ahhahah.’’
That was only the beginning of the negative reaction. Sam Groth, the former world No 53 from New South Wales who now works as a commentator, was more outspoken. ``It’s a selfish move to gain popularity,’’ Groth said of Djokovic’s list. ``He’s the last person anyone is going to take Covid advice from.’’
Daniel Andrews, the Victorian state premier, barely bothered to be diplomatic. ``People are free to provide lists of demands,’’ Andrews said. ``But the answer is no.’’ And then came Nick Kyrgios, who wasted no words as he tweeted: ``Djokovic is a tool.’’
Even though Djokovic may have won the Australian Open a record eight times, his standing across the country has never been lower. To borrow another vivid local term, the Aussies reckon he is a flamin’ galah.
– The Telegraph