MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one Novak Djokovic countered on Wednesday criticism of the letter to Australian Open chief Craig Tiley in which he suggested easing quarantine restrictions, saying his good intentions were “misinterpreted”.
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Up to 72 players are confined to their hotel rooms for 14 days and are unable to train for the Australian Open from 8 to 21 February, after passengers on three charter flights that took them to Melbourne tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Djokovic reportedly called for reduced periods of isolation and the transfer of players in strict quarantine to “private houses with tennis courts”, provoking a reaction from Australians.
Tiley confirmed that they were suggestions, not demands.
“My good intentions towards my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misinterpreted as being selfish, difficult and ungrateful,” said the Serb, who is isolating himself in Adelaide with other important players, in a long statement.
“This couldn’t be further from the truth.
“… sometimes, when I see the results of things, I tend to wonder if I should just sit back and enjoy my benefits instead of paying attention to other people’s struggles.”
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Tennis coach Daniel Vallverdu told Reuters that players in heavy quarantine should receive preferential treatment from organizers, such as training schedules and games scheduled in the coldest hours of the day.
Djokovic, who last year stepped down as head of the ATP Players Council to launch a corps of independent players, won the eighth Australian Open title in Melbourne in 2020, a record.
Former Australian Davis Cup player Sam Groth accused Djokovic’s letter as a “selfish political movement”, while Nick Kyrgios called the Serbian a “tool”.
Djokovic said he cared “genuinely” about the other players.
“I won my privileges the hard way … it is very difficult for me to be a mere spectator knowing how much every help, gesture and good word mattered to me when I was small and insignificant in the world hierarchy,” he said.
“So I use my position of privilege to provide service as much as I can, where and when needed.”
Djokovic also expressed gratitude to TA organizers, the Australian government and citizens for allowing players to compete in the midst of the pandemic.
“Things in the media have increased and there has been a general impression that players (including me) are ungrateful, weak and selfish because of their unpleasant feelings in the quarantine,” he added.
“I’m very sorry that it got to that point, because I know how grateful many are. We all came to Australia to compete. Not being able to train and prepare before the tournament starts is not really easy.
“None of us questioned 14 days of quarantine, despite what is being said by the media.”
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Ken Ferris and Christian Radnedge)
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