Tennis - waiting for Australian Open

[magimedi]

And longing for lots of chat!!

JaneIt's a worry across the board- DD1 is year 10- and so much has been missed, that they were meant to do catch up lessons on- but now of course, they aren't in school to do them. It's a complete mess. It's probably a good thing ds dropped out of college when he did- his mental health would never have survived this.

The flights out to Australia are not getting a good press. Some people have not been able to return to Australia from from other countries due to Australia restricting flights into the country - they are questioning why hundreds of tennis players and staff are now being able to fly into the country.

Also it looks as if some players have tested positive on a flight (not sure how that happened if they are supposed to be negative before they boarded) and now those players on the flights have to quarantine and won’t be able to practise - it doesn’t seem to be going well

On a lighter note I’m reading A Handful of Summers by Gordon Forbes about the tennis world in the 50s and 60s - it’s very politically incorrect but quite entertaining!

If I was a stranded Aussie, wanting to get home, I'd be livid that the athletes were being let in. All down to £SD, I suppose.

It's definitely all about money, as usual- for the players, ans the event. The reason given for going ahead will be that players are working, therefore that counts as a valid reason to circumvent the rules that apply to the general public. Just like here.
It's difficult- I'm sure the players don't want to cause problems, and they have livelihoods to consider (not all those who are playing are in the Nadal/Djokovic earnings bracket)- and some won't have made any money for months.

But I really feel for people who haven't been able to get home/have had flights cancelled- and then see all these tennis players turning up. A real slap in the face.

I’m definitely unimpressed with the whinging and tone deaf players who are complaining on social media about the additional quarantine for those who were on flights with the individuals testing positive.

The Aus Open organisers have moved heaven and earth to try and stage this tournament. They have had to make a significant political case and there are many people in Melbourne very much against the tournament going ahead.

The likes of Alize Cornet (always been a brat) whinging that she ‘assumed’ that she wouldn’t have to quarantine unless her very close contacts tested positive, just beggars belief.

If I was Craig Tiley I would give her the choice to default from the tournament and fuck off out of Australia (thereby quarantining in a much less comfortable hotel at her own expense until she is cleared to fly).
If anyone tries to leave their hotel room and break quarantine, they should be arrested and punished according to the prevailing local regulations.
They all made the decision to fly and attempt to play the tournament, in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s always the also rans as well. They’ve been given an opportunity to earn money and points, at great expense to Australia.
They need to show some respect for the country, the organisers, and the two million people around the world who have died from covid, rather than moaning that they won’t get the same practice time as someone else. Go back and practice against your garage doors if you don’t like it?

ScienceSensibility

If there were a 'like' button on MN (& I don't want one) I'd be pressing it for your post.

I agree with you 100%.

I agree Science the players complaining do seem very tone deaf - some are now saying that they didn’t know the rules but they must have known that there were risks in travelling in the middle of a global pandemic - they can’t complain now about the consequences - it does all leave a bit of a sour taste

Thank you magimedi and fizzy.

I confess I have been in two minds about the wisdom of trying to stage the tournament, but Australia is probably one of the few places in the world it could be done right now. They have really had a grip on travel to protect their citizens and it just made my blood boil yesterday to see so much entitlement from certain players.

I see today that Djokovic has written to Tennis Australia making certain demands on behalf of the hard quarantined players.
Never mind tone deaf, he is stone deaf. He is not on the Players’ Council any longer and given his disastrous Adriatic tour last year, is in no position to be making demands on anyone.

Contrast with Stan Wawrinka, who has been labelling his social media posts #grateful. As should they all.

I imagine everyone on this thread, like me, is desperate to see some top flight tennis. I’ve had the dates ringed in glitter on the calendar since they were announced. I know it would give us all a boost, but it must not come at the expense of virus transmission to our hosts in Australia.

I truly hope they calm down and adjust their mindsets to quarantine. All this noise is more likely to lead to cancellation. Just because social media gives them a voice to the world, they should learn to use it with responsibility.

Needless to say, Rafa is just quietly going about his business. Class act.

Science there are definitely two types of player in the world- and it is obvious which type Djok is. It really is tone deaf of Djok -especially in Australia, a tournament he has dominated more than any other.
And yy, Rafa just keeps his head down. As you say, the more the players complain, the more likely things will just get pulled. And it could jeopardise the rest of the tour. No one wants that.

Argh I keep trying to post and the page keeps randomly reloading and then I lose everything! Grrrr!!

Anyway I could type it all out again but I have to go and help with maths or something now... but basically I agree about what's been going on in Melbourne. (And now I want a glitter pen for my calendar, I love that Science!)

On an unrelated note, I see Grigor is asking whether he should bring back the spotty tracksuit! The answer is obviously yes. 73% of (Instagram) voters can't be wrong!!

Yes Grigor should definitely bring the spotty tracksuit back

Last year I wrote all the Grand Slams in my diary and then they either changed the dates or didn’t go ahead - using a glitter pen is a genius idea - I’m still not ready to commit things into my new diary yet though!

Good luck with the maths Spidey - that would be my worst nightmare!

It looks as if Djok’s list of demands for players has been given very short shrift (Quite rightly!)

I hate to say it but Dick is being the voice of reason again
I can't link to it but see his Twitter post today re Cock and Tomic and his girlfriend, on the back of an Aussie news report.

Btw, I've stayed in the player's hotel, the Hyatt in Melbourne. Nice view of Flinders Park and the city in general

My glitter pen usage was me railing against the hideousness of covid and lockdown and finally having something to look forward to! I’ve regressed to my teenage self. 😀

If anyone needs a laugh, that YouTube video from Tomic’s girlfriend is absolutely top drawer! She has the world’s output of filler in her lips, never washes her own hair (!) and complains that she has never “pooped’ in front of her boyfriend before!
Erm, there’s a door right there, love....
Tomic is in the background of the vid, looking like he is regretting his life choices...
I’ve never seen such an untidy hotel room.

In the interests of fairness, I would find it difficult to not have an opening window. Being in a hotel room with room service, not a problem, but not being able to get fresh air I would find tough.

I am loving Nick Kyrgios coming out and calling Djokovic “a tool”. I love that he is unfazed and calls it as it is.

Side note, Sascha Zverev has now left Team8 and is now back to his family running his business affairs...

Oh wow, Tomic's gf does sound interesting. .

I'm not sure I can cope with Nick continuing to be the Voice of reason .

And yy- Grigor can bring back the hideous track suit. We might like it better, second time around!

I know that the worlds finally gone mad when Kyrgios becomes the voice of reason!

I heard about Tomic’s girlfriend saying that they’d spent 11 hours playing video games and they don’t even need to do strict quarantine - they sound like a lovely couple

I think Bernie might have met his perfecr soul mate. .

I wonder what his dad thinks of her?

I agree about the lack of windows Science - hotel rooms always seem quite stuffy (not that I’ve ever been in an Australian one!)

John Millman talked interestingly about his quarantine experience when he returned to Oz after the us open in the Tennis Podcast - it sounded pretty tough

I like Millman. I just hope he has got over his experience in Australia last year- because I haven't. It was torture- and he really should have won!

I’m not sure he has Raahh I love listening to him - he’s so interesting but even he was pretty downbeat about the whole quarantine experience but I guess it’s got to be done

Oh, that's sadIt really was a very tense match. I remember the end so well- I really wanted him to win. (sorry Fed fans).

Oh! Found you lot again! So looking forward to seeing the Aussie Open again!! Looking forward to seeing sunshine 🌞 and great tennis 🎾 and reading you guys comments and take downs of the delinquent competitors!

Morning tobee. I'm looking forward to it- still not sure how much I will get to see, or if the broadband will stand up to everyone being at home doing live lessons/working/watching tennis on Prime .

And the big question- can I get away with calling 'watching my mother watch tennis on tv' a P.E activity?

Sounds like the best sort of PE of the lot, Raahh.

Who is showing the tennis? Amazon??

magi Yes, it will be on Prime- but I think it's on Eurosport too (don't quote me, but I had this conversation with my mum- and she seems to think she was it listed as coming on there. It usually is). The slams do tend to be on platforms other than Prime, who show all the main ATP tour matches now.

So it's on Prime and Eurosport (I think)- sorry, that got a bit confusing! .