Is Novak Djokovic really worth putting the Australian Open at risk?

It’s not worth putting the Australian Open at risk to get Novak Djokovic here, writes Wally Mason.

He’s a great player, Novak Djokovic. The King of Melbourne Park and on the verge of history – one more grand slam and he’s won more than anyone.

But is he so great that it’s worth putting the whole Australian Open at risk?

Tennis Australia appears to think so. Despite being told that unvaccinated players would not be allowed into Australia for next year’s tournament, TA is still pushing to get the Djoker here. He won’t say whether he has been vaccinated, but TA don’t want that to spoil the party.

They’re still talking to federal and state governments about whether unvaccinated players will be allowed into Australia and under what conditions, they say. Which is code for: we are trying to find a way to ensure the bloke who has won nine Australian Open titles can play.

Meanwhile, the WTA players council obviously knows something the rest of us don’t. They have sent an email to members saying players who haven’t had the jab will be able to come to Australia to play as long as they do 14 days quarantine and have a couple of tests.

TA has form giving Djokovic special treatment. Last January, he and a handful of other big-name stars were allowed to serve their quarantine in a five-star Adelaide hotel room, with limited restrictions that allowed them to get out and about. All the other players, meanwhile, did their best in hard quarantine in Melbourne.

You can see where the TA marketing department is coming from, of course. Djokovic is currently tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 grand slam titles and if he wins in Melbourne in January he will become the most decorated player of all time. His presence is a massive drawcard for the tournament.

Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula has tried to hose all this down. He says the same thing as TA – we’re still talking about it and no decision has been made.

But why are they still talking? Why is there any question of unvaccinated players being allowed to compete? What’s to talk about?

Major sporting events and competitions in Australia have been battered almost into oblivion for the past two years by the pandemic.

As they struggle to emerge, none can afford to take chances. Least of all the Australian Open

The possibility of an unvaccinated player bringing Covid into Melbourne Park should be something TA is doing everything to avoid.

An outbreak could see the tournament delayed, shut down or played in front of empty stands. The tournament would be wrecked and the financial consequences for TA would be significant.

Why risk all that just to make sure one player takes part – even if he is the world No.1?

Far better to have a tournament that is guaranteed to go ahead as scheduled, with crowds, than to risk it all falling apart for one player.