Concerns have been raised over the decision to allow top ranked players to conduct their quarantine in a different part of Australia.
Earlier in the week Tennis Australia confirmed that the world’s top three players on both the ATP and WTA Tour’s will spend their 14-day quarantine period in Adelaide instead of Melbourne. The city where all the other players will be staying. Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said the decision has been made to ease the influx of players coming into Melbourne. As part of the agreement between Tennis Australia and the local government, there will also be a two-day exhibition event featuring the six players.
Although the move has proven to be controversial with some saying the top guns will receive better facilities and treatment in their new location. Including the ability to use the hotel gym which will not count towards the allotted five-hours training time players are allowed. Although it is understood that a final decision is yet to be made.
Spanish newspaper Marca have claimed that world No.1 Novak Djokovic is one of the players to have voiced his concerns about the difference in treatment between the two groups. In one of the chat’s used by players, Marca says the 17-time Grand Slam champion has admitted that there are differences between the two and he ‘doesn’t agree with it.’ Although he has made no public comment.
Djokovic is the former president of the ATP Players Council before resigning to help set up the Professional Tennis Players Association. An independent body which campaigns for Djokovic and his peers to have a greater say in the decision making process. Although the PTPA hasn’t been well received by the ATP.
Amid the background chats about Adelaide, French world No.72 Jeremy Chardy has become the first player to speak out about the issue in public. During an interview with L’Equipe newspaper, the 33-year-old has claimed that the latest development places some players at a disadvantage.
“They will even be able to benefit from a gym at the hotel and will be able to do their exercises, which will not count towards the five-hour quota,” Chardy said.
“Everyone can go out. They will almost be able to live normally.
“Already they have a lot of privileges. If they can do everything more than you; it will not be the same preparation.
“And that’s weird for a sport where we’re all supposed to be on the same footing. If I was No.4 in the world, I would be distraught.”
Herwig Straka, who is the manager of world No.3 Dominic Thiem, believes there are both pros and cons to the Adelaide quarantine. It was Thiem’s father Wolfgang who confirmed the new plans before they were officially announced during an interview with tennisnet.com.
“You have advantages and disadvantages,” Straka told orf.at. “You have fewer problems with the seats, you have a little more freedom because there are fewer people there. On the other hand, you first have to adjust to the conditions in Melbourne. But it’s probably better to train in Adelaide because it’s less busy.”
It has also been confirmed that other players who are not part of the world’s top three would be allowed to stay in Adelaide if they are their invited hitting partners. Jannik Sinner was originally paired up with Rafael Nadal and Dennis Novak with Thiem. It is unclear as to if any of those partners will also be staying there instead of Melbourne.
Responding to the criticism, Australian Open director Tiley has insisted that there will be no substantial difference and all players will be abiding by the same rules. He says that there has been ‘not completely accurate’ reports of what the Adelaide experience will be. Although he didn’t elaborate on what reports he is referring to.
“They’ll be in a different hotel – obviously a smaller cohort – and travel directly to Adelaide, so there will be some benefit because of that,” Tiley told The Tennis Channel.
“But outside of that, the conditions of training will be the same.
“I know there’s a fair bit that’s been written on social media, which is not completely accurate about what would be experienced in Adelaide.”
As it currently stands Djokovic, Thiem, Nadal, Ash Barty, Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka are the top names set to be based in Adelaide. They will play an exhibition event in the city on January 29th and 30th before travelling to Melbourne.
