Australian Open 2020: Player anger over Melbourne smoke haze
One of tennis’s rising stars has blasted Australian Open organisers, questioning whether stars like Roger Federer would have been forced to play in Melbourne’s horror smoke plume. But some big names are backing tournament officials.
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American Noah Rubin has accused the Australian Open of double standards over air quality, suggesting Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic would not have had to play in the smoke haze blanketing Melbourne Park.
Qualifying resumes this morning in cooler, clearer conditions with improved air quality.
Forecasts for Monday’s start to the tournament are for mild conditions but there are fears smoke haze could return to Melbourne over the weekend
Rubin, the junior Wimbledon champion eliminated in first-round singles, said lower-ranked players had no choice but to play in dubious air quality this week because of financial pressures.
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“We don’t have too many chances to make this kind of money and move up in the rankings,” Rubin said after play at Melbourne Park was delayed by two hours because of hazardous air readings.
“Hypothetically speaking, if we lose in the first round, this is easily the most money we’ll make at any tournament, so to say that you’re gonna pull out or not play is a very tough ask.
“If you qualify, you’re making really good money, you have momentum, good points and a lot of opportunity. That could easily allow for a great year of tennis.
“People say ‘just pull out’ but this is my livelihood, this is my life and my profession.”
Rubin said Federer and Djokovic would not have been compelled to play in the haze.
“If this was Federer or Djokovic playing in the finals, would we have done things differently?” he asked.
“That’s always the always the question, and you’d have to think they would not be playing in these conditions.
“To force qualifiers to play, it’s a tough place to be in.”
Rubin’s comments came as Victoria’s chief health officer called on Tennis Australia to create an air quality policy to better protect players.
Canadian tennis player Brayden Schnur also came out swinging, labelling all-time greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal “selfish” and more concerned about their legacies, saying it’s time the pair stepped up and protested against playing conditions during Australian Open qualifying.
The world No.103, who is the third seed in the Open qualifying tournament, was scathing of officials after his first round win over Austrian Sebastian Ofner, which took over two hours in the smoky conditions.
“It’s got to come from the top guys - Roger and Rafa are a little bit selfish in thinking about themselves and their careers,” Schnur said.
“Because they’re near the end and all they’re thinking about is their legacy and they’re not thinking about the sport itself and trying to do what’s good for the sport - so those guys need to step up.”
Schnur battled with conditions, which he described as like smoking a cigarette.
“You feel super dryness in your throat,” he said.
GREATS BACK TENNIS AUSTRALIA
Grand slam greats John McEnroe and Chris Evert have backed Tennis Australia’s handling of the smoke haze controversy, insisting there is “no easy answer” to the crisis.
McEnroe said the bushfires ravaging the country presented “a terrible situation down there, and I firmly believe they’re (TA) worried about the fans and the players.
“I’m hopeful that that was just a temporary blip yesterday. But that’s clearly an ongoing issue,” McEnroe, an ESPN commentator said, after players suffered breathing issues during first-round qualifying.
“I don’t think anyone has an easy answer, whether it’s the players or the tournament organisers or the government of Australia.
“So this is something that hasn’t been experienced ... this is something that’s sort of unprecedented.
“But I’m sure people, players included, and I can’t speak from having spoken to these players because I haven’t, (are) scrambling to figure out what is best for everybody.
“Players are obviously extremely excited when they go play a major event, the first one of the year, down in Australia to start the year. Everyone is excited and everyone is concerned. So I think everyone is trying to figure out what to do here.”
Evert said “I think that they really have to keep a close eye on it.”
“The tournament seems to be such a small sort of thing compared to what’s happening in the country, but I would put the players’ health first for sure, and even if they had to play at a different time.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s really -- we’re talking about lives.”
Rubin said he was unaware play on Monday had been postponed and practice suspended before a session which saw some players experience breathing difficulties.
“Just keep us updated constantly. I want to receive a text every 30 minutes about the air quality,” Rubin said.
“They may think of it as not that serious, but I’m out there playing tennis for three hours. They’re not.
“We can complain about it, but we’re not going to pull out — I don’t have the luxury of pulling out of a tournament like this.
“I’m a professional, but the fact that there’s ball boys and other people out there is kind of ridiculous.”
Qualifying matches were postponed for two hours and practice suspended after thick smoke haze blanketed the courts.
DOCTOR: AIR QUALITY POLICY IS NEEDED
Dr Brett Sutton said the scenes at Melbourne Park on Tuesday were “awful” and that there should be thresholds in place to determine when it is safe for players to be on court.
“Tennis Australia needs to work up an air quality policy,” Sutton said. “Happy to work with them.
“I can’t make a call on what individual thresholds might be, it really does depend on what it might mean to enclose a space and what filtration systems they might have as alternatives.
“But I think they need to consider through all those thresholds, from poor to hazardous air quality, what their alternatives might be with a view to protecting as many players as possible.”
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SOUTH AFRICAN PULLS OUT
Bushfire smoke prompted Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson to withdraw from the Kooyong Classic because the South African has a history of respiratory issues.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal said he was hopeful Wednesday’s weather change would herald the start of more favourable conditions.
“I really believe that things are going to be a good time, hopefully,” he said.
“We have to keep focus on try to have the healthy conditions for every player to be able to play safe in terms of health situation.
“But we don’t have to create or over-create hysteria as to what is going on.”
Frenchman Lucas Pouille appeared to question the motives behind some players speaking out.
“I keep reading that it is dangerous to play, reading messages from players saying that it is scandalous to play,” he tweeted.
“I cannot judge I am not there, but my question is this: Why are you going on court?”
Rain led to the suspension of qualifying matches, stranding Jaimee Fourlis, Kaylah McPhee and Rinky Hijikata mid-match.
EYES OF THE WORLD ON AUSSIE OPEN
Smoke disrupted the Australian Open for the second day in a row on Tuesday.
Officials postponed the start of play until 1pm before allowing players to take to the courts.
Practice was also suspended until 11am.
Tournament director Craig Tiley will continue to be advised by air quality, weather and medical experts before consulting players – and the respective tours – over when it is safe to resume.
All 64 scheduled first-round singles matches were completed on Tuesday despite a delay of an hour because of poor air quality.
EPA Victoria tweeted a warning this morning: “Victoria’s air quality continues to suffer with bushfire smoke. Melbourne improved overnight but is still VERY POOR. The forecast is for improving conditions with a chance of a storm later.”
Last night’s Rally for Relief was held indoors under Rod Laver Arena’s closed roof.
Tuesday’s opening session of qualifying was marred by competitor illness as the tournament started in stifling heat and poor air quality.
Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic said she was angry and scared after sagging to the court when struggling for breath as smoke haze blanketing the courts intensified midafternoon.
Other players were affected, including Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, who found breathing difficult while her opponent You Xiadoi suffered severe cramps and resorted to serving underarm.
Britain’s Jay Clarke also endured cramps while a distressed ball boy needed assistance on the Englishman’s court.
Main draw players including Elina Svitolina weighed in asking: “Why do we need to wait for something bad to happen to do an action?”
Jakupovic was forced to use an inhaler before retiring in confronting scenes when leading Stefanie Voegele 6-4 5-6.
Maria Sharapova and Germany’s Laura Siegemund also abandoned their match in the second set at the Kooyong Classic.
The Classic is scheduled to resume at 1pm today but Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic has withdrawn, citing injury. Tournament director Peter Johnston said Raonic’s withdrawal is not related to air quality concerns.
Tennis Australia said on-site experts had declared the playing environment at Melbourne Park safe, insisting it had also liaised with representatives of both the men’s and women’s tours.
Jakupovic responded: “It was really bad. I never experienced something like this and I was really scared. I was scared that I would collapse.
“That’s why I went on the floor. Because I couldn’t walk any more. I’ve never had asthma before.
“I think it was not fair because it’s not healthy for us. I was surprised.
“I thought we would not be playing today. We don’t have much choice. If we don’t go on the court, maybe we get fined.
“It would maybe have been better to wait to see if tomorrow is better. They still have time, there is no rush.”
Tournament director Craig Tiley said the Open was in unfamiliar territory because of the impact of the Gippsland fires.
“This is new for all of us,” he said.
“We follow the advice of medical experts and environmental scientists and the health and wellbeing of the players, fans and staff is crucial to the decisions we make.
“This morning when we got up, the smoke haze was significant. Based on that advice we took a decision to suspend practice, and to start the qualifying matches an hour later than it was originally scheduled.”
Professional tennis players have been expected to perform outside today while everyone else - pets included - is supposed to stay indoors, according to the City of Melbourne https://t.co/Vl2lYS824k
— Simon Briggs (@simonrbriggs) January 14, 2020
Scoreboard telling of the Australian Open’s first retirement, Dalila Jakupovic. Behind scoreboard you get an idea of the air quality, which seems to have deteriorated in past hour. pic.twitter.com/1htPVZrB6X
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 14, 2020
RV wishes to advise that today’s meeting at @spendthriftpark has been abandoned due to smoke haze in the area and the hazardous air quality, which is unlikely to improve throughout the day making it unsuitable for racing
— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) January 13, 2020
Bouchard sympathised with the tournament but said “there just has to be some line in the sand.”
“I don’t know what they can really do besides putting the matches indoors,” she said.
“It’s unfortunate because we don’t want that either. The whole thing is an unfortunate situation.
“I think there just has to be some line in the sand.
“Some of kind of rule where if there’s a certain number, or if you’re over it, then you just don’t play.
“I don’t know if our tours have that or not.
“But just like the heat rule, there should be an air quality rule.
“Maybe this tournament will help get that into gear.
“We don’t have this issue that often but I think there should be some regulations to ensure the health of the players.”
The Australian Open has an air quality policy, but it is yet to be publicly released.
The tournament relies on advice from experts in the field based on data taken from on-site monitors.
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