Tired of the Djokovic saga, they want focus back on the game
Novak Djokovic hovers over the Australian Open like a threatening cloud. Won't give, won't go.
The run-up to the year's opening Grand Slam has been overshadowed by Djokovic's counter against the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa for a second time on Friday. His plea will be heard on Sunday.
The world No.1, a vaccine sceptic, is hoping to defend his title.
With just 24 hours to kickoff, players, the sport's biggest stakeholders, expressed disappointment that tennis is not the talking point of the season.
Stefanos Tsitsipas refused to engage on the subject of Melbourne Park's nine-time champion, who spent Saturday night in detention.
"I'm here to talk about tennis, not Novak Djokovic," the fourth-seeded Greek said. "Not enough tennis has been talked about in the last couple of weeks, which is a shame."
Rafael Nadal, looking for a second AO crown, argued that no player was bigger than the platform. "Australian Open is much more important than any player," the 35-year-old said. "This Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him."
The 20-time major winner while recalling the horrors of the last couple of years when Covid-19 wrecked lives and livelihood, bringing the planet to its knees, argued for the common good.
"Tennis is just an entertainment sport for people, for us it is our job. In terms of importance in the world, tennis is no important," he said, adding that the sport was severely challenged in the last two years. "A lot of players haven't been able to survive the pandemic because prize money went down. Players from countries outside of Europe or North America have been going through very tough times. At some point it needs to finish. If there is a solution and the solution is the vaccine, that's it. We need to be vaccinated for the well-being of everyone and for the health of our sport."
Djokovic faces among others a charge that his presence in Australia could stir up anti-vaccine sentiment which undermines the host nation's pandemic response.
Aussie Alex de Minaur, the 32nd seed, said the Djokovic issue was taking away from the player field. "The Australian Open is always an incredible event, my home Slam, my favourite tournament," he said. "I'm ready to put all of this behind me and let my tennis do the talking."
De Minaur, who has spent most of his growing up years in Alicante, Spain, noted that the Serbian's decision not to get vaccinated was at odds with Australia's 'Covid zero policy', which has been brutal on its citizens, who have suffered some overbearing lockdowns. Australians returning home last year have had to quarantine for two weeks at designated hotels at their port of entry, forcing thousands to stay away.
Quite a few Aussie pros, including world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, stayed out of the country for something like six-seven months in 2021.
John Millman, the world No.80, left home in February last year only to return in December. "To play week in and week out on the road without being able to come back home is pretty tough," de Minaur reasoned. "I tried to help out the Aussies however I could by having them stay over (with me) in Spain, a kind of a home away from home. The pandemic has been by far the toughest for Aussies. I think they need to be given a lot of appreciation, a pat on the back for still being out there and competing."
