Djokovic is making us all look like fools
Rival Tsitsipas says Novak is playing by his own rules
Another day of farce in Melbourne showed how novak Djokovic has lost the dressing room — and how the Australian open has lost even the ability to conduct its own draw on time.
the fiasco over the world no1’s participation was dragged deeper into a fifth set when Australia’s immigration minister Alex hawke again delayed a decision on Djokovic’s immediate future.
the call was expected to be made this morning, with the possibility that the player’s legal team would extend the wrangling further by challenging any adverse outcome in the courts.
Yesterday, the draw for the season’s first Grand Slam had to be postponed by 75 minutes. the official explanation was ‘technical issues’ but the delay coincided with a press conference of Aussie Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which may have brought an announcement on Djokovic (above). none was forthcoming.
the Serbian, 34, practised on rod Laver Arena and his name was eventually drawn as top seed. he is due to face compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic but, in line with most aspects of this episode, nobody could be sure.
there was also further evidence emerging of player resentment about the way the affair has been handled.
World no4 Stefanos tsitsipas was among those who only got vaccinated reluctantly and feels like he has been played.
‘one side of it is we have all followed the protocols to compete in Australia, we’ve been very disciplined in that part,’ he told Indian broadcaster WION. ‘the other side, I’d say that it kind of seems like not everyone is playing by the rules of tennis Australia and the government. A very small group chose to follow their own way and it kind of makes the majority look like they’re all fools or something.’ While a lot of the tournament’s pain has been self-inflicted, it could do nothing about a decision yesterday which will inflict financial wounds. Local health authorities decreed that capacity will be limited to 50 per cent as a response to omicron figures in Victoria, which see infections running at around 40,000 per day.
With half the tickets already sold, the rest were made unavailable for now.
In the midst of the drama, there is meant to be a major tennis tournament involving 255 other singles players in addition to Djokovic.
emma raducanu, playing her first Grand Slam since new York, was paired in the first round against the 2017 US open champion Sloane Stephens.
the American could be considered a tough draw, especially as she tends to reserve her best efforts for bigger events. however, on new Year’s Day she married the USA and former Sunderland footballer Jozy Altidore.
Unpredictable at the best of times, it is difficult to know how well prepared the world no 68 might be.
raducanu’s fellow Brit heather Watson will face Mayar Sherif, the egyptian who raducanu beat in the final round of the US open qualifying. the event will be the first big test for Cam norrie after an outstanding 2021 which saw him as one of the world’s most improved players. he was handed an awkward draw, against 21-year-old American Seb Korda.
Andy Murray was given a rematch against the no 21 seed nikoloz Basilashvili, who he beat at Wimbledon last summer and again this week in a marathon encounter in Sydney.