Tennis: Djokovic ‘playing by own rules’, says Open rival Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas says Novak Djokovic is playing by his own rules. And making his peers look like fools.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia with the winners trophy after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the final during day nine of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. Picture: Getty Images.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says Novak Djokovic is playing by his own rules. And making his peers look like fools.

“The stats say 98 per cent of players have been vaccinated and did what they had to do in order to come and perform and play in Australia,” the World No. 4 said before Djokovic had his visa cancelled by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday.

“One side of it is, yeah, we’ve all followed the protocols in order to compete in Australia. We’ve been very disciplined in that part.

“The other side, I’d say that it kind of seems like not everyone is playing by the rules of how Tennis Australia and the government have been putting things.

“A very small group chose to follow their own way and it kind of makes the majority look like they’re all fools or something.”

Greece’s Tsitsipas will be among the hottest of favourites to win a Djokovic-less Open. He said the Serb’s attempt to play at Melbourne Park while unvaccinated was nothing if not bold.

“For sure he has been playing by his own rules and has been doing something that not many players had the guts to go and do, especially after the ATP announced certain criteria for players to enter the country,” he said.

“No one would have really thought I could come to Australia unvaccinated and not having to follow the protocols that they gave me, which takes a lot of daring to do, and putting a grand slam at risk. I don’t think many players could do that.”

Tsitsipas was one of the elite players to express reservations last year about being vaccinated.

In an interview with India’s WIO News, he said: “For me, it worked one way, for Novak, it worked another way.

“That doesn’t really mean that my way is the right one and his way is the wrong one. It’s just each person’s perception about it.”

Djokovic was supposed to train at Melbourne Park on Friday afternoon. His session was shifted to shortly after 9am when it became apparent the verdict from Mr Hawke would be landing later in the day. The tournament will be blown wide open if Djokovic doesn’t play. Tsitsipas will fancy his chances. “I chose to go and be 100 per cent ready for whatever was to come and not having to think about anything else,” he said of his decision to get vaccinated and ensure a smooth passage to Melbourne Park.

Djokovic has the best return of serve in tennis. He’ll be outdoing himself if he wins a fresh round of legal action against Mr Hawke’s decision.

At the Sydney Tennis Classic, women’s world No. 3 Garbine Muguruza likened Djokovic to a rebel without a cause. “I am vaccinated,” she said. “It’s a nonsense battle. Sooner or later everyone will have to get vaccinated. What’s happening (with Djokovic) is a show and I don’t know if this is good for tennis.”