Novak Djokovic, number one in the world, insists he was not “rude, awkward and embarrassed” in speaking out about quarantine conditions for players ahead of the Championship. Australian Open.
Ten people who have flown to Melbourne for the first grand slam of the year have tested positive for coronavirus, resulting in 72 players being confined to their rooms.
Djokovic is part of a group of key players who enjoy better conditions while quarantining in Adelaide, but the 33-year-old said he felt obligated to the benefits “ used his “hard work” to make suggestions to tournament director Craig Tiley on how to improve the situation for players in Melbourne.
In a lengthy social media post, Djokovic wrote: “My good intentions for my competitors in Melbourne have been misinterpreted as selfish, difficult and embarrassing. This could not be further from the truth
“I care a lot about my teammates and I also have a great understanding of how the world is run and who is getting bigger and better and why.
“I’ve earned my benefits the hard way and for that reason it’s very difficult for me to be an observer just to realize how much all the help, gesture and good words were. which was important to me when I was small and insignificant in the world order of packaging.
“So I use my welfare role to be as much a service as I can where it is needed.”
Regarding his recommendations to Tiley, Djokovic said: “In our email exchange I took the opportunity to reflect on possible improvements to player quarantine in a fully fledged Melbourne.
“I gathered a number of suggestions and comments from other players from our chat group and there was no harm in trying to help.
“I was aware that the chances of accepting any of our proposals were low, just as my application for quarantine with my team in Melbourne instead of Adelaide was rejected before we traveled due to strict regulations. the government.
“I understand that organizing international sporting events in a pandemic poses health risks to the local community and to the players themselves.
Novak Djokovic sports a face mask after winning over Diego Schwartzman at the ATP finals in London in 2020 (John Walton / PA)
“I would therefore like to thank Tennis Australia, the Australian Government and local citizens for taking this risk with us for the love of the game and the many opportunities it will bring to the country’s economy and its people. .
“We are honored and will do all we can to follow the guidelines and protocols that have been put in place. Hopefully we can nurture our bodies and be ready for the mental and physical endurance tests that lie ahead once the competition starts.
“There was a growing media outlook and a general perception that the players (myself included) were embarrassed, weak and self-serving because of their unpleasant quarantine feelings. I am very sorry that that came because I know how grateful many are.
“We all came to Australia to compete. It is not easy to be able to train and prepare before the competition starts. None of us have ever questioned 14 days of quarantine despite what the media says. ”
Lisa Neville, Victoria’s police minister for the state, reported three new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, saying one of them was a player who has been in a “hard lock” since entering Australia when he came to power. on a flight where positive cases had been recorded.
The second case involved another player and the third is a supporter with the player, she said.
She said: “In the meantime, the player, the supporter and the bubble – so the other supporter and the player who owns them – will not be training until we have final confirmation either are they barking or are they are positive.
“If they are positive, these two (the player and the assistant) will go into the health hotel and the bubble will be considered a close bond and will be locked for the 14 days.”
Tennis Australia’s chief executive Tiley said the safety of the Victorian community would not be endangered, but said the body was walking “tightrope”.
He told ABC News Breakfast: “I understand the players, this is a new experience for them and I don’t think anyone would have expected what the 14 days were like and they are change to.
“At first, it was very challenging with their change, it has improved a lot, I think most of the players understand and accept it and there is a minority struggling with it but we are going to do what we can to make it better for them. ”
Yulia Putintseva from Kazakhstan has been one of the most interesting protesters and posted a picture of herself on Instagram maintaining a sign that reads: “We need fresh air to breathe.”