Australian Open: Djokovic considers his proposals "misinterpreted"

Novak Djokovic published on Wednesday on Twitter an open letter to the Australian public to "clarify" his proposals made at the Australian Open which attracted taunting and discontent.  

AFP

"My good intentions towards my fellow players in Melbourne have been misinterpreted as selfish, ungrateful. The reality could not be further from that," wrote the world's No.1. He and the top players registered for the Australian Open have been placed in a "VIP" health bubble in Adelaide, visibly less strict than the one in Melbourne where the first Major of the year will be played from February 8 to 21. 

"It's difficult for me to be a simple spectator knowing how important the slightest help and the slightest gesture meant to me when I represented nothing. That's why I use my privileged position to help in the best way I can when I can be useful," continued the Serb who last summer created a players' union, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). 

An eight-time champion in Melbourne, a record, Djokovic, 33, has been harshly criticized for having sent a list of proposals to the Australian Tennis Federation (Tennis Australia, TA) to try to obtain an improvement of the confinement conditions in Melbourne. He mentioned in particular the provision of houses with tennis courts and better quality meals. 

This attitude did not please a part of the Australian population who feared a resurgence of COVID-19, whereas they were under strict confinement from July to October. Australian player Nick Kyrgios called Djokovic a "moron" and Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka ironically commented on proposals made "since Adelaide? Ahhahah ". 

On Wednesday, Djokovic claimed to have spoken on behalf of the players who were not treated as well as he was and to have relayed "suggestions and ideas raised in our discussion group". 

A total of 72 players were banned from leaving their rooms for two weeks after cases of COVID-19 were detected on their flight to Australia. 

The remaining players in Adelaide are allowed to leave their rooms for five hours a day to train under strict sanitary conditions. 

Djokovic also assures that his letter to tournament director Craig Tiley was not a list of requests but "a reflection for possible improvements to the conditions of the strictest isolation. »