Djokovic tries hard to clear air

Melbourne – World No 1 Novak Djokovic published an open letter to the Australian public on Twitter this week in which he tried to “clarify” demands he appeared to make to the organisers of the Australian Open.

Eight-times champion Djokovic, was widely harangued on Tuesday after reportedly issuing a list of demands in a letter to Tennis Australia that included moving quarantined players into private homes with tennis courts and getting them better meals.

Australian media zeroed in on the demands, portraying them as petulant and selfish while fellow player Nick Kyrgios called him a “tool”.

In the tweet, Djokovic said his letter to Australian Open director Craig Tiley had been taken the wrong way.

“My good intentions for my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misconstrued as being selfish, difficult and ungrateful. This couldn’t be farther from the truth,” he said.

The Australian Open is due to start on 8 February