'From Adelaide?': Stan Wawrinka mocks Novak Djokovic's demands
World No.1 Novak Djokovic caused a stir with a reported list of demands to help out players in stricter quarantine conditions in Melbourne, but rival Stan Wawrinka wasn’t sold.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has categorically ruled out making changes to quarantine rules for Australian Open players, following a list of requests Djokovic.
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The World No.1 tennis player reportedly sent Australian Open boss Craig Tiley a letter with six points he would like actioned for frustrated players who are in lockdown in Melbourne.
Among the reported demands, published by Spanish tennis website Punto de Break, Djokovic wants the days of isolation reduced, the ability for players to see their coach or trainer, and as many players as possible moved to private houses with a tennis court to facilitate training.
But Djokovic is one of the players serving his quarantine in Adelaide, which players have claimed is unfair because of the better conditions being afforded to the top players.
This prompted Wawrinka, who is quarantining in Melbourne, to take aim at Djokovic’s list.
Journalist Eric Salliot, in a tweet, questioned whether Djokovic’s reported letter was a way to prove the ability of the Professional Tennis Players Association’s (PTPA) to properly represent the players.
However, Wawrinka responded to the tweet with a laugh and pointed out Djokovic was in Adelaide with different quarantine conditions.
Novak Djokovic a pris les choses en main et a envoyé une lettre-proposition à Craig Tiley. C'est une manière de prouver que son syndicat peut faire bouger les choses. ce qu'il demande ne semble pas irréalisable. Mais c'est l'Etat de Victoria qui a la main... https://t.co/EU3wz5C1CK
— Eric Salliot (@ericsalliot) January 17, 2021
“From Adelaide? Hahahaha,” he wrote.
Wawrinka is most likely having a go at the preferential treatment being afforded to the top stars in Adelaide.
Naomi Osaka already caused a stir on social media after posting a photo with staff members training in Adelaide, which reportedly angered some quarantining in Melbourne.
Australian PM defends Aus Open tournament
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has jumped in to defend the handling of the Australian Open situation after officials were criticised for giving preference to tennis players over Australian citizens.
Some 72 players are in hard lockdown after a third chartered flight to the Australian Open returned a positive COVID-19 case.
A further 25 Australian Open players were forced into quarantine on arrival in the country on Sunday ahead of the season’s first tennis major.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Monday that another four coronavirus cases, including one player, were linked to the charter flights from overseas.
The Prime Minister has scoffed at those suggestions after denying that tennis players are being given preferential treatment over citizens.
“No one is being prevented from coming home from overseas because of the Australian Open. That’s not happening,” the Prime Minister told 2GB radio on Monday.
“Their places are not being taken by tennis players, I can tell you that.”
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