Topic: Tennis League All Thread - page 328. (Read 203654 times)

I think that you have a point. Maybe these things happen often now and then, as there is a chance that the fed often allows players who are not vaccinated, but it goes unnoticed but as a high profile player like Djokovic did the same thing, the media boomed with the news and it went viral.
But whatever the case might be, a player as high profile as Djokovic should not be breaking the law and rules and it's quite disappointing.

They say that he was the best scapegoat that an Australian politician could get to show off, in any other part of the western world surely nothing happens and things are fixed with bureaucratic favors, but that they have only enforced the rules and a figure like NJ has to be the example, but...

Given the issue where we are, it is worth saying that he played it very badly, because if he does not proceed, his appeal faces a 3-year ban.

^{source:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/novak-djokovics-previous-covid-19-diagnosis-not-a-valid-reason-for-exemption-at-australian-border/ar-AASz7Wp}

As far as I understand from this story, which is neither simple nor decided until the Australian court gives its verdict, Djokovic was granted a visa to enter Australia in accordance with the law.
Do you want to say that the Australian authorities violated their own laws in order to first approve the illegal visa for Djokovic, Voracova and other tennis players, and then only after great public pressure did they decide to start applying their own laws?
That doesn't make much sense to me.
I think there is a lot of illogicality in this case and I hope that the Australian court will finally resolve this confusion and make a fair verdict.

Djokovic clearly didn't meet the criteria to be allowed entry, and neither did Voracova.

But yes, it's certainly true that if Djokovic wasn't such a high profile figure, and if he had decided to stay at home, then Voracova and others would have been able to remain in Australia, and to play tennis.

The way I view it is that Australia allowed in some players in who shouldn't have been allowed according to the law, but no-one really noticed and so no-one made a fuss. But as soon as Djokovic got involved it all became very high profile, and the political wrangling started, everything got brought into the open, and so Voracova has now been deported, Djokovic is awaiting his legal hearing, and all other tennis players who were granted an exemption are now being investigated.

The fact is that Djokovic and other players should not be allowed in if they aren't vaccinated and don't have legitimate medical reasons for this; this is the policy, and it should have been adhered too. But it wasn't, and no-one really noticed this until Djokovic got involved, and now it's become all about political positioning. But regardless, he doesn't meet the criteria for entry.

Well, this had to happen to Djokovic at one point or another. Playing without vaccination at a time when the Omicron variant is spreading is a very bad decision.

And I also think that the govt might have some faults here and there about asking for specific information from him. But also, Djokovic should also have had in mind that the Australian govt is not allowing non-vaccinated outsiders over there.

Yup, Đoković's team will for sure use her case to put additional pressure during the court hearing on Monday.
This clearly shows the double standards - if it wasn't a famous player everything would have happened unnoticed. Afther the backslash from Australian citizens it simply had to be revoked to keep the peace.

Politicians really are the scum of the world.

The video is good, yes, thanks for sharing. I certainly think there is something to the argument that the PM is "doing a tough guy act" because Covid cases are rising, and there is an upcoming election. Equally Nadal is perfectly correct to say that Djokovic knew the rules months ago, and that actions have consequences, and this was all predictable.

Djokovic shouldn't expect to get into the country as he has no real medical grounds to do so, and is attempting to bypass the rules. But this should have been made clear at the outset, before he got on the plane. The situation where Australia says "yes", and then when he arrives they say "actually, no" and then put him in a quarantine hotel is just ridiculous.

Talking about ridiculous, the Serbian leader and Djokovic's parents sound like absolute lunatics. The hyperbole is absurd: "They are keeping him in jail" "Serbia will fight for justice and truth" "Tonight they can throw him in a dungeon, tomorrow they can put him in chains" "Novak is the Spartacus of the New World" "They are keeping him as a prisoner. It's not human"

The best thing that can come out of this is that a spotlight is thrown on the plight of the refugees who have apparently been holed up in that hotel for 8 years.

It seems to me that the BBC in this short video best explained the current situation around Djokovic, all the illogicalities of his case and the possible political background of the whole case.

https://twitter.com/BBCRosAtkins/status/1479356183186128899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1479356183186128899%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.index.hr%2Fvijesti%2Fclanak%2Fvideo-kako-je-najbolji-tenisac-svijeta-zavrsio-u-australskom-pritvoru%2F2330737.aspx

Czech tennis player Renata Voracova also arrived in Australia with a medical exemption from vaccination, but she was granted entry and has even played one tennis match in the tournament in Australia.
Now, after this case with Djokovic, her visa was subsequently annulled and she is now in the same quarantine hotel with Djokovic, awaiting deportation from the country.
This is just another proof that the Australian government first agreed to a medical exemption from vaccination as a valid condition for entry into the country but apparently changed that decision due to public pressure.
So, this is a pure political decision due to the upcoming elections, and an obvious example of double standards, and not a rational decision based on medical reasons.
Source: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/33012055/renata-voracova-joins-novak-djokovic-immigration-detention-per-report
https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/tenisacica-usla-u-australiju-s-istom-potvrdom-kao-djokovic-sad-su-joj-ukinuli-vizu/2330769.aspx?index_tid=179157

Outrights actually is where I'm thinking for sure cause my money would have been tucked away on every Djoko special I know Sportsbet loves to do, so I can kiss that goodbye =( He's done me 15/1 and 30/1 specials at least two times already (maybe even 3 I can't really recall).

The only outright on AO I know of is on Fairlay. Couple of days ago men's selection was up but no longer available. For women's Barty is 6/1 but she's not winning heh. So yeah, only makes sense if you get that kind of freebet promo, otherwise your pick exits from Covid and you're out of luck. Then again, no better time to bet every day with boost on 10/1+ selections?

How would I know at this time? There is still 10 days until the tournament begins and with the covid in the world we don't even know who will play when the time comes. Hell, qualifiers start in 3 days, so we don't even know the full draw yet. Was not even aware there is possibility to place the bets yet.

I would only maybe consider placing an outright bet on winner for men's part. I feel like only Zverev and Medvedev have the chance this year if Djokovic is really out. But again with covid, what happens if they get sick? I guess for outright bet we loose that one instead getting it void.
Don't think anything really changed from the time i posted this:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.58845601

Also little birdie told me that Sportsbet will do something for AO, so I am waiting for the promos They were great last year on GS. For every win of your outright choice you get 0.5 mBTC free bet or something like that.

Right, I'm totally not going to add to the drama of whatever you-know-what is going on but my very first bet on AO today just got voided as Nadal had a nice walkover already. Now looking for a next value bet, who's got a tip for good ol me?

Trofo, class act. Show me where to put my money already. I gone done Osaka -5.5 at 18/10 but I feel like I wasted money there.

The ATP isn't a world government. It's not even a government. They don't get to ignore international laws. Every ATP or WTA or ITF tournament takes place in a country. And the laws of that country - whichever country the tournament happens to be in - have to be obeyed. It is absolutely immaterial whether the ATP say players should or shouldn't be vaccinated, because in every tournament the country decides. ATP saying players don't have to be vaccinated is utterly irrelevant to everything. The only way an ATP decision on this could be relevant is if they said players did have to be vaccinated, and the country said they didn't have to be, in which case players would be more protected than the people of the nation. ATP saying players don't have to be vaccinated just merits a shrug of the shoulders, great, so what.




Well, Djokovic's next attempt at a slam would be the French Open. And the French President has just said that he wants to make life difficult for unvaccinated people. I don't think this ends in Australia.




I think we'd all agree that Australia have handled this badly. Djokovic may not be completely the victim here, but neither is Australia blameless in the fiasco.




I don't know what it's like in Australia, but I know what it's like in my country. There have been strict lockdowns and strict rules, people have even been prevented from seeing loved ones as they die, in order to reduce the spread of the virus. But we have seen time and time again that ordinary people have to deal with these rules, but the rich and famous get to completely ignore them and do whatever the hell they want. I assume the antagonism towards Djokovic is based on that. He appears utterly unconcerned. Maybe he genuinely doesn't get it, and just has no empathy?




Definitely it's not just him, but he's obviously the one that makes the headlines. I believe the other exemptions are now being investigated, too.

I agree and fully understand that people had it hard, in Australia probably more than anywhere else in the world. The thing I'm trying to say is that I don't understand why are they angry with Đoković? He's just a tennis player!

They should be angry with their politicians - firstly for implementing such strict measures and then for making all this mess happen in the first place. I agree that Đoković could have handled this better but it is not something he should be concerning himself about at all. The only thing on his mind should be how to win the tournament if they let him play.

It's not just him btw, more than 20 players did the same thing. This is just more media crap - yet again.

That is class Trofo


Look there is overwhelming backlash to Djokovic being given an exemption, a backlash
from people who have complied with regulations, have endured countless lockdowns
and are experiencing restrictions and cannot wait to see the back of this COVID business.
There are also top players who have complied to what the vast majority of the world has
complied with and have commented on what has happened pretty much siding
with the authorities, Nadal and Medvedev notably.

I think this is definitely linked to what the world is experiencing. No vaccine, no entry,
this goes for shops, restaurants etc. as well as countries.

...and in the mean time there is lots of Tennis being played down under....

Just watching Tomljanovic v Kenin, 3rd set and Kenin looks like she would like
to bury her racquet into the court every time she misses a shot.

100% true. When I watch the news from Australia I get the impression that they have gone crazy. But when they arrange a "fun life" for their citizens this is one thing, and when they cripple a traditional international tournament it is another. In my opinion, this tournament has lost more than Djokovic. Djokovic remained true to his principles and his dignity, while the organizers of the Australia Open proved to be strange to say the least.

Agree with this completely. Sport and politics should not mix ever. No matter how dire are the circumstances. If ATP does not make vaccinations mandatory that should be it. If Australia does not allow for not vaccinated people to enter, fuck them, organize the tournament somewhere where all tennis players will be welcome. I am sure they would change their story quickly. I am not fan of UEFA as well but they handled this much better, if team can't be a host in his country due to restrictions the game is played elsewhere.

It is not like I am defending Djokovic even if most of what I have written goes in his favor. The other solution would be for ATP to make vaccinations mandatory and then he would not be able to play any tournament under organization unless he clears the situation with them.

Worst thing for me is that tennis is probably the easiest sport to organize with proper covid measures on pitch. 2 players on big pitch, you can even confine them to different housings. Just cancel the usual players party and give them separate locker rooms.

Not really. It's that some Australian officials (particularly Tennis Australia) want to make an exception and let him in, and some Australian officials (particularly the Prime Minister) don't want him to get any special treatment. It's a conflict between Australian authorities, that is playing out in public. Djokovic finds himself in the middle of it, not as an innocent victim, but because he is quite knowingly trying to force his way through a closed door, and one person is trying to open it for him, whilst another is trying to keep it closed.



Yes, certainly.



That's brilliant!



Of course it's linked. As Nadal has said, Djokovic has been well aware of the rules for entering Australia for many months, and is aware that he doesn't meet the requirements (either vaccinated or medically exempt). He's trying to get the rules bent so that he can play without being vaccinated and without having any medical reason for exemption. Djokovic is treating the entire population of Australia with utter contempt. They've been under some of the strictest lockdowns in the world for a very long time now, and he thinks because he's a top tennis player he can just ignore the rules and wander in whenever he pleases. Well, now he's finding out that he can't. And taking this to court is another phenomenal misstep, that will further damage his already tattered reputation. He's not an innocent victim here, he's not a moron who is somehow utterly unaware of the pandemic and how Australia have been managing it for the past two years. He wants to be treated like a VIP who can ignore the law.

I disagree completely. It is not linked at all, Đoković is just asking to play.
The rules are made elsewhere, Australia made the mess out of this, not Đoković. I will not go as far as to call him a victim because he for sure pushed to play but ultimately - he's just a tennis player. Of course he will want to do the best for his career and that is to play in the tournament.

ATP does not request vaccination for playing - meaning that they are taking a neutral stand there as well. The world's problems should be solved elsewhere, not by Novak Đoković and not like this. The mess is theirs, the responsibility as well.

This should not have happened, especially from a public figure like Djokovic.  He was surely aware of what was going on and he along with the organizers gave the money priority over public health, especially at a time when the new Omicron variant has started to spread everywhere. This is some serious carelessness and it should be addressed strongly in my opinion.

I think it's not just about people uniting in hating Djokovic, it's not about that issue.

It's more of how the Australian government taking care of the issue here, they've said it already, no vax, no entry simply as that and no exceptions.

And maybe this is the very reason why tennis fans started to question their decision then on allowing Djokovic to play in their own soil. Anyhow, they try to rectify everything, but I doubt that everything will be forgotten on how they handle the Djokovic case.