John McEnroe and Chris Evert TA’s back handling of smoke haze

John McEnroe and Chris Evert have backed Tennis Australia’s handling of the Australian Open’s smoke haze controversy.

The smoke haze around Melbourne on Tuesday which created issues during the Australian Open qualifiers. Picture: Michael Klein

Grand slam greats John McEnroe and Chris Evert have backed Tennis Australia’s handling of the Australian Open’s 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.

“Listen, they have fires all the time in Australia. That’s an issue. But this is the worst it’s ever been. And there’s still a couple more months in their summer.

“So 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: “It’s really devastating what’s happening, and I guess I’m thinking of the whole country and all the animals and all the people that are affected.

“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.”

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British player Liam Broady accused Australian Open officials of treating qualifiers worse than animals.

Broady lost in the first round of qualifying, playing his match in a blanket of smoke at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, and said he struggled to breathe in the conditions.

Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic had to quit her qualifying match that day after a coughing fit, while Australia’s Bernard Tomic also sought medical treatment.

World No 234 Broady took to Twitter on Thursday, saying: “The more I think about the conditions we played in a few days ago the more it boils my blood.

“We can’t let this slide. The email we received yesterday from the ATP and AO was a slap in the face, conditions were ‘playable’. Were they healthy?

“Citizens of Melbourne were warned to keep their animals indoors the day I played qualifying, and yet we were expected to go outside for high intensity physical competition?

“On tour we let so many things go that aren’t right but at some point we have to make a stand. ALL players need protection, not just a select few.”

Forecasts for Monday’s start to the tournament are for mild conditions.

HERALD SUN/AAP