‘Definite no’: Quarantine chief denies Novak Djokovic quarantine demands

Djokovic demands better food, less iso time for quarantined players but Daniel Andrews, quarantine boss give firm no.

Serbian world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has issues a list of requests from his Melbourne hotel during his 14-day isolation. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has dismissed a list of demands from men’s tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, saying he’s free to provide such a list, “but the answer is no”.

“That was very clearly laid out beforehand, so the notion that there’s been any change, the notion that people weren’t briefed - I think that that argument really has no integrity whatsoever, and don’t just take my word for it, you’ve got other players, who I think on social media and in other forums have made it clear that they were clear on the rules, and I probably can’t be any plainer than that,” Mr Andrews said.

Djokovic wrote to Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley with a list of requests to consider.

The head of the Professional Tennis Players Association, set up in September as an alternate voice for players, requested:

• Fitness and training material in all rooms
• Better food for elite athletes, following players taking aim at the meals on offer
• Reduce the days of isolation for players in hard isolation and carry out more tests to confirm they are negative
• Permission to visit your coach or physical trainer, as long as both have passed the tests
• Grant both the player and his coach permission to be on the same floor of the hotel
• Move as many players as possible to private houses with a tennis court to facilitate training

Asked whether the Victorian government had provided tennis players with a document outlining quarantine provisions in advance, Mr Andrews said that was a matter for Tennis Australia.

“They’re paying for it. We’ve got a very clear set of rules and guidelines. Tennis Australia and the other, the tour and both tours, and the (International Tennis Federation) beyond that, I think that they’re all engaged in this.

“This is a no surprises thing. Whilst people might prefer to do it differently, that was not what the public health advice said was safe and we’re not changing that, because whilst the event is very important, nothing is more important than making sure that we follow public health advice and keep the state safe.”

The head of Victoria’s COVID-19 quarantine program also issued a firm no Djokovic’s demands.

CQV Commissioner Emma Cassar reiterated today that the 72 players now isolating in their hotel rooms would need to do so for the next fortnight.

“We’re not modifying the program,” Ms Cassar said. “We understand the 14 days is really tough ... but we’re not taking risks on community safety.

“That’s a definite no from me,” she said when asked if the players could leave quarantine early.

“They’ve got phones, they’ve got technology where they can do that now, because again that’s the safest way for them to do those coaching sessions and we’ve all learnt to live with this pandemic in a virtual sense. It’s about keeping them safe and their coaches safe.”

Private houses, which were used ahead of the US Open, had been considered midway through last year as a possibility. But at that stage the summer of tennis was to occur across the country, with quarantine spread across the states.

Once it became clear border restrictions could hinder the movement of players locally, which resulted in the relocation of all events to Melbourne leading into the Australian Open, it was among the measures abandoned.

Djokovic tested positive to COVID-19 last June after he organised the Adria Tour without any social distancing or COVID-19 measures. He came in for some harsh criticism on Twitter for the list of requests.

Proposals reportedly made by Novak Djokovic to #ausopen boss Craig Tiley for players, in particular those in isolation.

Points 3 to 6 have zero chance of happening. Absolutely none.

And, it’s fair to say Djokovic’s opinion on Covid-19 protocols count for zilch. https://t.co/2ICl9HTuJY

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) January 17, 2021

You know who we shouldn’t be listening to about covid protocols for a tennis tournament?

... Novak ‘Adria Tour’ Djokovic. https://t.co/3b8zCpzzOV

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) January 17, 2021

Djokovic’s call came as a third flight of players to Melbourne for the Australian Open was forced into a strict 14-day quarantine after a person travelling from Doha — not a player — tested positive for COVID-19.

An alert to players who flew from Doha on January 16 notifying them that a passenger infected with COVID-19 was on their plane was sent late on Sunday night.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Carolyn Broderick was scheduled to discuss the matter with the players at 9.45pm.

It came as French player Alize Cornet issued an apology for her initial complaints about being subjected to a strict 14 day lockdown ahead of the Australian Open.

Cornet, a tour veteran who was a fan favourite while representing her nation in the now-defunct Hopman Cup in Perth, was among those upset when she learned she would be unable to practise.

After my last (deleted) tweet I feel like I need to apologize to you Australian people. Your reaction to this tactless comment made me realize what you've been through last year & how much you suffered. I guess I feel a bit anxious about all this & I better have shut my mouth
1/2

— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 17, 2021

She and several peers who flew to Australia from Abu Dhabi on a flight carrying a COVID-19 infected passenger argued they had not been told of the prospect everyone on board could be forced to quarantine and forego the daily five hour practice window allocated to players.

But Cornet was the subject of on-line backlash and said she now had a greater understanding as to why it was important to serve the entirety of the quarantine in lockdown.

“After my last (deleted) tweet I feel like I need to apologise to you Australian people,” she wrote.

“Your reaction to this tactless comment made me realise what you’ve been through last year and how much you suffered. I guess I feel a bit anxious about all this & I better have shut my mouth.

“But sometimes we make mistakes and the last thing I wanted to do was to hurt your feelings.

“Don’t be mad at me, Aussie people. You’ve always been one of my favorite(s). I promise I’ll stay quiet for a while. Take care.”