Novak Djokovic has reportedly despatched Australian Open boss Craig Tiley a letter with six factors he would really like actioned for pissed off gamers who’re in lockdown in Melbourne.
There are 72 opponents now in 14 days isolation after additional constructive COVID-19 assessments from their constitution flights to Melbourne.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews on Monday introduced one other 4 constructive instances linked to the flights, bringing the whole to 9 – together with one unnamed participant.
The recent blow to preparations for the event comes as world No.1 Djokovic reportedly known as on Tennis Australia to fulfil a listing of requests.
Djokovic was the previous president of the ATP Participant Council however resigned to arrange the PTPA (Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation).
Among the many factors, in response to Spanish tennis web site Punto de Break, Djokovic needs the times of isolation lowered, the power for gamers to see their coach or coach, and as many gamers as potential moved to non-public homes with a tennis courtroom to facilitate coaching.
He additionally needed higher meals and extra health tools delivered to the rooms of gamers.
Mr Andrews shut down Djokovic’s concepts about lowering the period of quarantine.
“Persons are free to supply lists of calls for however the reply is not any,” Mr Andrews stated.
The Premier additionally stated that the foundations concerning shut contacts have been firmly laid out for gamers earlier than their arrival after a quantity complained they weren’t warned that each one aboard the flights would go into lockdown.
“I do know that there is been a little bit of chatter from quite a lot of gamers concerning the guidelines – effectively, the foundations apply to them as they apply to all people else, and so they have been all briefed on that earlier than they got here and that was a situation on which they got here,” he stated.
“There is no particular therapy right here … as a result of a virus would not deal with you specifically.”
Djokovic’s calls for have been criticised on social media given his involvement in organising the shambolic Adria Tour, a tennis exhibition collection in Serbia and Croatia held with none social distancing measures in place that resulted in constructive COVID-19 instances to quite a few gamers concerned – together with the Serbian himself.
Djokovic and a few the sport’s greatest stars together with Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal are getting ready for the Open in Adelaide, the place they are going to play an exhibition on January 29.
There have been claims these gamers have higher coaching circumstances and have been allowed to deliver extra employees than the one individual allotted to gamers in Melbourne.
Regardless of the chaos, Mr Tiley has dominated out delaying the tennis grand slam a second time after it was initially put again three weeks.
The Commissioner for COVID-19 Quarantine in Victoria, Emma Cassar stated police presence had been elevated on the Open motels and added that there had been instances of “difficult behaviour” from some confined gamers and assist employees.
She cited two instances when lodge room doorways have been opened to have a dialog or shout down the hallway.
“There may be zero tolerance for breaches,” she stated.
“It is low stage however harmful acts that we simply cannot tolerate.”
Ms Cassar warned the gamers and assist employees may very well be fined as much as $20,000 or repeat offenders transferred to the complicated care lodge the place they’ve a police officer stationed outdoors their door.
Folks in Australia should keep at the very least 1.5 metres away from others. Test your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you’re experiencing chilly or flu signs, keep dwelling and organize a take a look at by calling your physician or contact the Coronavirus Well being Data Hotline on 1800 020 080. Information and data is obtainable in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus.