AUSSIE FURY AT DJOKOVIC BACKLASH: Djokovic sparked players’ row

NOVAK DJOKOVIC has been savaged by his fellow tennis stars for his “selfish” demands to relax quarantine rules before the Australian Open.

At least 72 of the 390 players – including British No2 Heather Watson – are in hard lockdown following positive Covid-19 tests on specially chartered flights Down Under. They will be unable to leave their hotel rooms for a fortnight.

World No 1 Djokovic has written to Tennis Australia to request reduced quarantine times for players in

exchange for more testing – plus better food and access to gym equipment.

But the Serb’s initiative has caused a backlash, with former Australian No1 Sam Groth calling it a “selfish political move” and fellow Aussie

Nick Kyrgios dismissing Djokovic as a “tool”.

The country has suffered months of strict lockdown and some Australians have still not been allowed to return home from overseas.

Vanessa Sierra, the girlfriend of Aussie star Bernard Tomic and a former Love Island contestant, has also taken to social media to complain about being confined in hotel rooms. She said she was eager to leave quarantine to “get her hair done”.

And she added: “There is only one bathroom. I have never gone to the toilet with Bernard around. “I don’t know what I am going to do.

“I haven’t broken that barrier in the relationship yet – and I hope I don’t have to.”

No-nonsense Kyrgios, above, responded on Twitter: “Djokovic is a tool. I don’t mind Bernie, but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes.”

The rescheduled first Grand Slam event of the season is set to start on February 8.