AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021 - Novak Djokovic hints at player boycott if quarantine measures continue

[joekapa]

Here’s a better way of going forward. Scrap tennis altogether while people around the world are burying the dead in the hundreds of thousands, cities are going into lockdown, countries are collapsing economically and hospitals are being overrun. Imagine having the audacity to complain about being able to earn millions of dollars for an event that could’ve just been cancelled meaning nobody gets any money.

Spare us the melodrama Shazza.

 

[joekapa]

Amazing how everybody is lambasting Djokovic. Did you guys see Nadal's interview ? He was being diplomatic but when asked about the tour he said "So are we going to have to quarantine again ?", in a quite forceful manner. The only thing he brought up is that there are people who make a living out of the tour, who are NOT players. And that they will be affected.

Nadal, from the little he has said, agrees with the closed circuit bubble.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Amazing how everybody is lambasting Djokovic. Did you guys see Nadal's interview ? He was being diplomatic but when asked about the tour he said "So are we going to have to quarantine again ?", in a quite forceful manner. The only thing he brought up is that there are people who make a living out of the tour, who are NOT players. And that they will be affected.

Nadal, from the little he has said, agrees with the closed circuit bubble.

Nadal didn’t slam our quarantine in the first place. Saying you don’t want to do another quarantine or quarantining every tournament makes sense but after slamming Australia and our handling and the conditions and then saying we need a bubble (something Australia has already done, what do they think they’re in right now except a bubble?). Doesn’t make sense?

want a bubble? They literallt have had a bubble since they landed here and so many including Djokovic criticised it and so did the others. So they don’t want a bubble then?

 

[joekapa]

Nadal didn’t slam our quarantine in the first place. Saying you don’t want to do another quarantine or quarantining every tournament makes sense but after slamming Australia and our handling and the conditions and then saying we need a bubble (something Australia has already done, what do they think they’re in right now except a bubble?). Doesn’t make sense?

want a bubble? They literallt have had a bubble since they landed here and so many including Djokovic criticised it and so did the others. So they don’t want a bubble then?

Did you see his interview after his loss to Tsitsipas ? He is a diplomat, but the beauty is in the details. He said he didn't get enough practice time, that he usually does.


You don't see the forest, for the trees.

Tha AO this year was a test run for the quarantine approach.......and IT DIDN'T WORK. Many players suffered injuries, and have complained. Not just players ranks 50+. Also high level players.

You either listen, or you can keep on living in a bubble.

Giving players a gym set during quarantine and saying "your good", before a slam, was simply ABYSMAL. They train 4, 5 ,6 hours a day before a slam, for weeks on end. Giving them an hour hit a day, and a couple of barbells SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. Hence the injuries sustained, and the complaints.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Did you see his interview after his loss to Tsitsipas ? He is a diplomat, but the beauty is in the details. He said he didn't get enough practice time, that he usually does.


You don't see the forest, for the trees.

Tha AO this year was a test run for the quarantine approach.......and IT DIDN'T WORK. Many players suffered injuries, and have complained. Not just players ranks 50+. Also high level players.

You either listen, or you can keep on living in a bubble.

Giving players a gym set during quarantine and saying "your good", before a slam, was simply ABYSMAL. They train 4, 5 ,6 hours a day before a slam, for weeks on end. Giving them an hour hit a day, and a couple of barbells SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. Hence the injuries sustained, and the complaints.

Women’s tour seemed fine. Seems the B05 has continued to show the problem for the men I’d say is the issue. And that’s long been an issue for the younger players. But yes perhaps it didn’t work in which case we can’t have these B05 tournaments because other countries are crippled by Covid so the bubble would mean infected players like we saw in RG and the USO.

 

[joekapa]

Women’s tour seemed fine. Seems the B05 has continued to show the problem for the men I’d say is the issue. And that’s long been an issue for the younger players. But yes perhaps it didn’t work in which case we can’t have these B05 tournaments because other countries are crippled by Covid so the bubble would mean infected players like we saw in RG and the USO.

If you get rid of Bo5 from men's tennis, it will be the death of the game. The problem was QUARANTINE. Get with it.

Djokovic, Zverev, and even Nadal are suggesting a tennis "bubble", like they have in the NBA. Where most tournaments (even 250's, and 500's) level tournaments can be played, and lower ranked players can still earn their bread and butter. AND THEY ARE RIGHT.

1 for clay, 1 for hard court, 1 for grass..........and that's it.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

If you get rid of Bo5 from men's tennis, it will be the death of the game. The problem was QUARANTINE. Get with it.

Djokovic, Zverev, and even Nadal are suggesting a tennis "bubble", like they have in the NBA. Where most tournaments (even 250's, and 500's) level tournaments can be played, and lower ranked players can still earn their bread and butter. AND THEY ARE RIGHT.

1 for clay, 1 for hard court, 1 for grass..........and that's it.

So like the Aus Open bubble? The one they **** on and complained for the longest time? Like that?

funny how they complained and now want what they complained about

 

[joekapa]

Women’s tour seemed fine. Seems the B05 has continued to show the problem for the men I’d say is the issue. And that’s long been an issue for the younger players. But yes perhaps it didn’t work in which case we can’t have these B05 tournaments because other countries are crippled by Covid so the bubble would mean infected players like we saw in RG and the USO.

Also has it occurred to you, that if you keep the tour as is, and players are supposed to quarantine for 2 weeks everywhere they go, it is logistically IMPOSSIBLE for all tournaments (especially 250's and 500's) to take place ? Even the Masters tournaments will have a huge problem.

The ATP has sat on their hands on this one. Djokovic, Zverev and many others have called them out. And they are right.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Amazing how everybody is lambasting Djokovic. Did you guys see Nadal's interview ? He was being diplomatic but when asked about the tour he said "So are we going to have to quarantine again ?", in a quite forceful manner. The only thing he brought up is that there are people who make a living out of the tour, who are NOT players. And that they will be affected.

Nadal, from the little he has said, agrees with the closed circuit bubble.

That is the problem with these players freshly turned politicians: they are so clueless about the bigger picture that everything they say looks like a badly thought out suggestion.

How will a bubble (let's assume that he means all-in-one-place) help the people living out of the tour sustain themselves?

Who are the people he is talking about?

 

[Bartelby]

Quarantine is unavoidable if you want a covid-free event. That's why having multiple events in one place aka a bubble makes sense.

If you get rid of Bo5 from men's tennis, it will be the death of the game. The problem was QUARANTINE. Get with it.

Djokovic, Zverev, and even Nadal are suggesting a tennis "bubble", like they have in the NBA. Where most tournaments (even 250's, and 500's) level tournaments can be played, and lower ranked players can still earn their bread and butter. AND THEY ARE RIGHT.

1 for clay, 1 for hard court, 1 for grass..........and that's it.

 

[Bartelby]

That's why the bubble idea is being touted as a solution. Fly in/Fly out tennis is not feasible at the moment, but it's hard to change this structure.

Also has it occurred to you, that if you keep the tour as is, and players are supposed to quarantine for 2 weeks everywhere they go, it is logistically IMPOSSIBLE for all tournaments (especially 250's and 500's) to take place ? Even the Masters tournaments will have a huge problem.

The ATP has sat on their hands on this one. Djokovic, Zverev and many others have called them out. And they are right.

 

[joekapa]

So like the Aus Open bubble? The one they **** on and complained for the longest time? Like that?

funny how they complained and now want what they complained about

The Australian Open WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH a time period for it to be a bubble. It was a test run for leaving the tour as is............and it failed. If players after quarantine, were given 2-3 week FULL training period, and then they started playing the various tournaments, then maybe it would have been a bubble.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also has it occurred to you, that if you keep the tour as is, and players are supposed to quarantine for 2 weeks everywhere they go, it is logistically IMPOSSIBLE for all tournaments (especially 250's and 500's) to take place ? Even the Masters tournaments will have a huge problem.

The ATP has sat on their hands on this one. Djokovic, Zverev and many others have called them out. And they are right.

Again. They LITERALLY have the bubble in Melbourne the same one they complained endlessly for. Now they want that in another country? They literally complained for weeks about what they now want. Melbourne is the bubble and has been for the last 3 weeks.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The Australian Open WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH a time period for it to be a bubble. It was a test run for leaving the tour as is............and it failed. If players after quarantine, were given 2-3 week FULL training period, and then they started playing the various tournaments, then maybe it would have been a bubble.

so the players should fly to say Florida where Covid is killing 200 a day or maybe Athens where they’re in lockdown or the UK where the mutation is from or hey maybe go to Wuhan where this came from? Imagine slamming Australia where we havent had a death in months and asking for a bubble. Good luck finding a country that will pay for thousands of people like Tennis Australia did. Especially after complaining like spoiled brats.

 

[joekapa]

Again. They LITERALLY have the bubble in Melbourne the same one they complained endlessly for. Now they want that in another country? They literally complained for weeks about what they now want. Melbourne is the bubble and has been for the last 3 weeks.

That's NOT a long enough time period. Why do you think the injuries occurred ?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The Australian Open WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH a time period for it to be a bubble. It was a test run for leaving the tour as is............and it failed. If players after quarantine, were given 2-3 week FULL training period, and then they started playing the various tournaments, then maybe it would have been a bubble.

Tell me what country wants 400 tennis players and their thousands of coaches trainers and family to set base for a few months at the expense of the nation while they are battling Covid. Tell me who is stepping forward??? Who is saying let’s do the bubble and we’ll pay for everyone to charter the planes here like Australia did?

 

[joekapa]

so the players should fly to say Florida where Covid is killing 200 a day or maybe Athens where they’re in lockdown or the UK where the mutation is from or hey maybe go to Wuhan where this came from? Imagine slamming Australia where we havent had a death in months and asking for a bubble. Good luck finding a country that will pay for thousands of people like Tennis Australia did. Especially after complaining like spoiled brats.

Australia was a test run, and it failed. Get over it. The initial complaints showed this, and then came the injuries.

IT WAS A FAILURE.

They are ATHLETES. Not robots. They need to train the way they are accustomed to training. AND THAT's THAT.

Stop being a Shazza.

 

[Bartelby]

It worked perfectly. Players would revolt having to spend five weeks without a pay day. But they did indeed need to stay in Australia longer for a proper bubble, but that's for the ATP.

The Australian Open WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH a time period for it to be a bubble. It was a test run for leaving the tour as is............and it failed. If players after quarantine, were given 2-3 week FULL training period, and then they started playing the various tournaments, then maybe it would have been a bubble.

 

[joekapa]

Tell me what country wants 400 tennis players and their thousands of coaches trainers and family to set base for a few months at the expense of the nation while they are battling Covid. Tell me who is stepping forward??? Who is saying let’s do the bubble and we’ll pay for everyone to charter the planes here like Australia did?

Plenty will, don't worry.

Why has it happened in the NBA ?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Australia was a test run, and it failed. Get over it. The initial complaints showed this, and then came the injuries.

IT WAS A FAILURE.

They are ATHLETES. Not robots. They need to train the way they are accustomed to training. AND THAT's THAT.

Stop being a Shazza.

Who is offering to pay for thousands of people to fly to their Covid infected country to set up a bubble for ungrateful tennis players while their hospitals are overrun? We did it because we had Covid at bay and they still complained. You think the UK wants them while they battle this strain? You think the US want them despite the carnage it’s causing? Who’s paying?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Plenty will, don't worry.

Why has it happened in the NBA ?

Oh my god it’s in the name. It’s the NATIONAL basketball association. It’s mostly Americans in the NBA. Tennis is THE global sport. You’re talking about flying players from every country on earth. Serbia, UK, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, China.

Nobody is stepping forward. We did it and they complained. They bit the hand that fed them. Nobody is stepping up to a bunch of complaining players

 

[joekapa]

It worked perfectly. Players would revolt having to spend five weeks without a pay day. But they did indeed need to stay in Australia longer for a proper bubble, but that's for the ATP.

That's why I said that it wasn't long enough to be considered a bubble.

Anyway, most people here are arguing for arguments sake. One thing is certain. If they don't change, this year is going to be a washout.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Can someone summarise the "demands" of the players point by point and with as much detail as he/she knows.

I am left with the impression that the players that give their opinion don't know what they want, and people speculate wildly about what that might be.

Then we will see what is the difference between what they want and what is already planned.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

That's why I said that it wasn't long enough to be considered a bubble.

Anyway, most people here are arguing for arguments sake. One thing is certain. If they don't change, this year is going to be a washout.

Yeah it’s going to be a washout. Nobody will want to host these players. No country will do what Australia did for a bubble because we were in a healthy position without the virus. And they dared complain? Good luck Djokovic. Indian Wells already cancelled. What’s next?

 

[joekapa]

Who is offering to pay for thousands of people to fly to their Covid infected country to set up a bubble for ungrateful tennis players while their hospitals are overrun? We did it because we had Covid at bay and they still complained. You think the UK wants them while they battle this strain? You think the US want them despite the carnage it’s causing? Who’s paying?

If you setup a HUB, and guarantee that 250's and 500's happen (the bread and butter of lower ranked players), then most would probably be willing to put their hands in their own pocket.

Also, I'm sure the ATP, and the slams have made PLENTY of money in the past to fork out some money too.

 

[joekapa]

Can someone summarise the "demands" of the players point by point and with as much detail as he/she knows.

I am left with the impression that the players that give their opinion don't know what they want, and people speculate wildly about what that might be.

Then we will see what is the difference between what they want and what is already planned.

see what the NBA has done. basically setup a bubble or 2, and have the tournaments (including 250's and 500's) at fixed venues.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

If you setup a HUB, and guarantee that 250's and 500's happen (the bread and butter of lower ranked players), then most would probably be willing to put their hands in their own pocket.

Also, I'm sure the ATP, and the slams have made PLENTY of money in the past to fork out some money too.

Indian Wells already cancelled. Miami soon considering Florida’s dire Covid rates. No country offering a hub anytime soon. Seems time is running out hey?

 

[joekapa]

Indian Wells already cancelled. Miami soon considering Florida’s dire Covid rates. No country offering a hub anytime soon. Seems time is running out hey?

Guarantee Florida will not cancel. I'm willing to bet a slab of VB's on it. You ?

 

[Bartelby]

I gurantee their decision will not be made on the science and it will not take place with first class preventative measures in place.

Guarantee Florida will not cancel. I'm willing to bet a slab of VB's on it. You ?

 

[joekapa]

I gurantee their decision will not be made on the science and it will not take place with first class preventative measures in place.

Don't understand your statement man. Say it again ?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

see what the NBA has done. basically setup a bubble or 2, and have the tournaments (including 250's and 500's) at fixed venues.

So, can you walk me through the details of that suggestion?

Which venues are considered, which tournaments will be included, how will the Qualifications work, will there be qualifications at all, how long will the bubble last and so on?

As they say, the devil is in the details, so let's hear about them.

 

[Bartelby]

We'll see how well Miami is run when it runs.

Don't understand your statement man. Say it again ?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Guarantee Florida will not cancel. I'm willing to bet a slab of VB's on it. You ?

You think they just going to let everyone fly on in? How they going to handle it?

 

[joekapa]

So, can you walk me through the details of that suggestion?

Which venues are considered, which tournaments will be included, how will the Qualifications work, will there be qualifications at all, how long will the bubble last and so on?

As they say, the devil is in the details, so let's hear about them.

There are no details man. The details are what we have said. have the tour restricted to a fixed amount of venues, and all tournaments are played there. e.g. madrid, rome, monte carlo, clay court 250's and 500's, can all be played at RG.
Hard court tourney's can be played at USO.

Grass court, restricted ONLY to Wimby.

 

[joekapa]

There are no details man. The details are what we have said. have the tour restricted to a fixed amount of venues, and all tournaments are played there. e.g. madrid, rome, monte carlo, clay court 250's and 500's, can all be played at RG.
Hard court tourney's can be played at USO.

Grass court, restricted ONLY to Wimby.That way quarantining will be done ONCE at each venue, if need be.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

There are no details man. The details are what we have said. have the tour restricted to a fixed amount of venues, and all tournaments are played there. e.g. madrid, rome, monte carlo, clay court 250's and 500's, can all be played at RG.
Hard court tourney's can be played at USO.

Grass court, restricted ONLY to Wimby.

I am asking, because I am aware how incredibly naive the whole idea is. You think that you can get the Madrid tournament to relocate at RG? Think again!

Also, there are basically no benefits to that suggestion, it is incredibly stupid, as I said. People were psyched by having to stay for 3-4 weeks in one place, and someone suggests (if it is that, but it is difficult to understand what these players want) that they stay for 7-8-10 weeks in one place. They have no idea!

 

[joekapa]

I am asking, because I am aware how incredibly naive the whole idea is. You think that you can get the Madrid tournament to relocate at RG? Think again!

Also, there are basically no benefits to that suggestion, it is incredibly stupid, as I said. People were psyched by having to stay for 3-4 weeks in one place, and someone suggests (if it is that, but it is difficult to understand what these players want) that they stay for 7-8-10 weeks in one place. They have no idea!

OK, I suppose you know better than the players themselves.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

OK, I suppose you know better than the players themselves.

The players have not indicated that they "know", which is why they don't have concrete suggestions. It is all wishful thinking.

 

[Deleted member 762343]

For the love of God, shut the f*ck up and just play tennis.

 

[Genious at Work]

Caligulovic is as delusional as ever.

 

[SonnyT]

Tennis is uniquely in a tough spot. It's the only sports of significance played on multiple continents.

There are 3 American major sports with Canadian teams. In baseball and basketball, the Toronto teams play all their games in the US, and essentially are homeless during the pandemic. In hockey, there are enough Canadian teams to form a league of their own, and never cross the US border.

In the only other major individual sports, golf, all the big tournaments (Open Championship) but one are in the US.

UEFA soccer is played in multiple countries, but the European Union provides pretty much all the regulatory framework!

Djokovic and Nadal should just concentrate on the 4 majors, and forget about anything else!

 

[beard]

Djokovic is right to be frustrated but there is no way around some quarantining. And the bubble idea is a good one except that it forgets tennis is a global sport.

What make tennis international sport?
Different but empty stadiums? No, there is no international feeling without spectators at stadiums...
Its people that make this sport international... players and spectators...

 

[clayqueen]

Djokovic wants to cancel the clay season.

 

[SonnyT]

Why don't they reschedule and do this? After AO, stay in Western Europe until after Wimbledon. After that, stay and play only in US! Forget Asia, LA, Middle East and anywhere else!

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Yeah let’s push super healthy tennis athletes to the front of the vaccines queue instead of millions of frontline healthcare workers, quarantine workers, flight crews for returning travellers, vulnerable old people and so many more. Amazing idea. Tennis is more important than protecting those saving lives. My god you people.

Typical emotional drama-queen reaction.

There are only several hundred tennis pros per slams, maybe a thousand or so overall competing regularly. You're making it seem like this 1000 getting vaccinated would kill a billion innocent people.

Better to think, then respond. Impulsive anger is the mark of weakness.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Quarantine is unavoidable if you want a covid-free event.

The Miami Open has entered the chat.
And it will be played with no quarantine. As it should be.
We salute the free citizens of Florida. Bravo!

March 19 - April 2, 2023

Select a Mini Plan from four amazing packages. The Final Four Plan, Opening Weekend Sessions, Day Sessions, and Night Sessions have reserved seating options along with various sessions to attend.

www.miamiopen.com

 

[Bartelby]

Florida is not exactly known for its good sense, so this is to be expected. This is the kind of event that the players should boycott on health and safety grounds.

Your reference contains no reference to quarantine, however, but only to the fact that there will be no large main stadium and that spectators will be reduced to a minimum.

The Miami Open has entered the chat.
And it will be played with no quarantine. As it should be.
We salute the free citizens of Florida. Bravo!

March 19 - April 2, 2023

Select a Mini Plan from four amazing packages. The Final Four Plan, Opening Weekend Sessions, Day Sessions, and Night Sessions have reserved seating options along with various sessions to attend.

www.miamiopen.com

 

[Raul_SJ]

Quarantine is unavoidable

I gurantee their decision will not be made on the science

We wish that for just one time you could stand inside our shoes, then you'd know how silly you sound! Just listen to yourself.

We "listened to the Science" when your favourite Dr Fauci and fellow alarmist adamantly told us that a vaccine would take at least 1.5 years to develop and at best we could expect 50% efficacy.

Well guess what, Dr Fauci has been busy wiping egg from his face as Operation Warp Speed led by DJT developed the vaccine in record six months. Cut out the bureaucracy and red tape and got it done.

Pfizer claims 95% effectiveness. Far higher efficacy than the 55% vaccine available to you in Australia.

So let's go with the Science and vaccinate all willing players at a Tournament. It should provide a wonderful opportunity to test its effectiveness and do away with the draconian quarantines that harmed so many players at Melbourne.

Does that work for you my favourite fear-monger? Are you ready to follow the Science?
Or do you wish to continue being an covid alarmist in order to promote your radical Global Reset agenda?

 

[Bartelby]

You need to stay away from propaganda websites. Vaccines play a different role to quarantine. At the moment we need both.

We wish that for just one time you could stand inside our shoes, then you'd know how silly you sound! Just listen to yourself.

We "listened to the Science" when your favourite Dr Fauci and fellow alarmist adamantly told us that a vaccine would take at least 1.5 years to develop and at best we could expect 50% efficacy.

Well guess what, Dr Fauci has been busy wiping egg from his face as Operation Warp Speed led by DJT developed the vaccine in record six months. Cut out the bureaucracy and red tape and got it done.

Pfizer claims 95% effectiveness. Far higher efficacy than the 55% vaccine available to you in Australia.

So let's go with the Science and vaccinate all willing players at a Tournament. It should provide a wonderful opportunity to test its effectiveness and do away with the draconian quarantines that harmed so many players at Melbourne.

Does that work for you my favourite fear-monger? Are you ready to follow the Science?
Or do you wish to continue being an covid alarmist in order to promote your radical Global Reset agenda?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Far higher efficacy than the 55% vaccine available to you in Australia.

What vaccine is available in Australia in any serious quantities?