COVID-19 and Tennis

[Pushka]

Yes definitely a missing. And not suggesting collusion between Djokovic/TA and the government, but I wouldn't put it past one of the bevvy of political advisors to have had a thought bubble that said "let's wait until he arrives and then see which way the wind is blowing", and if it looks bad we'll blame Vic and put our foot down .... and maybe I've watched one too many episodes of {pick a TV show .. Yes Prime Minister, Utopia, Frontline ....):

And for those worrying about "Australia looking bad", this is so trivial in the context of everything else .... and anyway in an election year, domestic needs always trumps international reputation, just about anywhere in the world.

And sometimes random things just line up for the opportunity.

 

[Lynda2475]

This got a brief mention on several international news programs i saw yesterday, all noted facts, none made negative comment. Dont think most of the world give a toss about the joker.

 

[drron]

drron, but has he had a recent covid infection at all?
He has played so many games at so many tournaments in 2021 it would appear he hardly had time for covid.

Tennis Player Rankings by WP Scale 0-10: 9

Player N. Djokovic has in 2021 joined 13 International Tennis Tournaments and played 62 Games.

N. Djokovic played in 2021 a total of 36 in a Final Games and -29 in Semi Finals Games.

N. Djokovic won in 2021 a total of 33 Tournaments.

I doubt it as his publicised infection was at his own tournament in June 2020.
And with the press breathlessly announcing every sports person's covid infection since then I have not seen his name mentioned but quite a few other tennis players mentioned.
The original reports said his paper work was not in order and if such an exemption were to be given he would need to present some hard evidence and an approval from the Australian or a State Government that many in the Entertainment industry have been able to get.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I doubt it as his publicised infection was at his own tournament in June 2020.
And with the press breathlessly announcing every sports person's covid infection since then I have not seen his name mentioned but quite a few other tennis players mentioned.
The original reports said his paper work was not in order and if such an exemption were to be given he would need to present some hard evidence and an approval from the Australian or a State Government that many in the Entertainment industry have been able to get.

One never knows - Djokovic played cough by his standards in the second half of the year, so maybe affected by catching covid (or long covid) outside a tournament.

The press only catches self-declared on social media or tournament withdrawals because of covid.

 

[MARTINE]

Here’s my take

IMHO - I find the reporting by parts of the media (? deliberately) opaque. I also acknowledge the politics (TA/VicGov/FedGov) and all the potential impacts and spin.

Playing in the tournament ie the TA/VicGov bit is akin to a having a paid hotel booking in an overseas hotel but you’ve left your passport on the plane - it’s ‘confirmed’, you’ve paid -ok you couldn’t produce your passport (only a photocopy) but you’ve been vouched for. TA/VicGov did the ’vouching’

Getting into a country is irrelevant to having the ‘exemption’ above.

As I see it he could have come in two ways

a) accepting he had to do 2 weeks quarantine as unvaccinated (ATAGI and Greg Hunt repeatedly confirmed inability to be vaxxed does not equal being treated as vaxxed. = quarantine option .) This was always an option. So even if he had Covid multiple times over six months the road still leads to quarantine so irrelevant …ditto vax anaphylaxis etc etc with a ton of supporting medical evidence. I’m also leaving aside the issue of ’disclosure’ concerns by the player. Pity I have to prove all my medical vax history to watch anyone play include this person.

b) get vaxxed and come in as such

‘Exemption’ as reported in parts of media is a meaningless term without context.

You can’t get into the country to get to the hotel. Try presenting a photocopy of your passport and people who vouch for you and see how far you get….

…all just supposition but at least the court case (if not prevented from being made public) should throw up some interesting documents about who said what and when and ultimately who has the power.
I’m still deciding if I will
use my tickets.

On border force rejected visa recipients often just get sent home on the next plane…

 

[prozac]

When he loses in court he could be slapped with a "cannot return for 3 years condition" on his way out. He must have some ego not to realise this could be a potential outcome.

 

[OATEK]

When he loses in court he could be slapped with a "cannot return for 3 years condition" on his way out. He must have some ego not to realise this could be a potential outcome.

I reckon this would come down to whether he knowingly breached, or acted in good faith based on dodgy TA/Agent advice. I am still slightly leaning towards the knowingly.

 

[jakeseven7]

I reckon this would come down to whether he knowingly breached, or acted in good faith based on dodgy TA/Agent advice. I am still slightly leaning towards the knowingly.

It was probably Flight Centres fault

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I reckon this would come down to whether he knowingly breached, or acted in good faith based on dodgy TA/Agent advice. I am still slightly leaning towards the knowingly.

I think TA will throw up a smokescreen by taking responsibility for misinforming all players

 

[MARTINE]

I think TA will throw up a smokescreen by taking responsibility for misinforming all players

All the final decisions were always above their pay grade

 

[serfty]

Uggh! I know what the thread title is but I keep seeing TA and reading "Travel Agent" ...

 

[Flashback]

Of course. I should have been more specific with 'other'. I meant, one that actually counts although there is a WW history with that country. Given the number of countries now mandating vaccination it's going to be a quiet year for the non vaxxer players.

Naughty Australia for trying to bring Serbia down.

Not really, you can get around entering somewhere unvaccinated by doing quarantine on arrival.

drron, but has he had a recent covid infection at all?
He has played so many games at so many tournaments in 2021 it would appear he hardly had time for covid.

Tennis Player Rankings by WP Scale 0-10: 9

Player N. Djokovic has in 2021 joined 13 International Tennis Tournaments and played 62 Games.

N. Djokovic played in 2021 a total of 36 in a Final Games and -29 in Semi Finals Games.

N. Djokovic won in 2021 a total of 33 Tournaments.

How reliable is that? How can you join 13 tournaments and win 33? Or are those 20 ones 'local'?

 

[Pushka]

Not really, you can get around entering somewhere unvaccinated by doing quarantine on arrival.

How reliable is that? How can you join 13 tournaments and win 33? Or are those 20 ones 'local'?

There's no way he will quarantine in every such country, likely in a med hotel, for two weeks a pop if he's allowed in as a noncitizen.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I read that France will be banning non-vaccinated players from the French Open.

 

[Flashback]

I read that France will be banning non-vaccinated players from the French Open.

Sounds just like something Macron would say

 

[Must...Fly!]

I read that France will be banning non-vaccinated players from the French Open.

And just like that...what's an AUKUS?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sounds just like something Macron would say

He said he was trying very hard to p**s off the unvaccinated. Good idea IMHO.

 

[jakeseven7]

I read that France will be banning non-vaccinated players from the French Open.

No golden slam for Novak even if he slimes his way into Australia then

 

[jb747]

Well, if they make the court case take another 12 days or so, he'd be welcome.

 

[jase05]

What a shock, TA stuffed up again.
Should be the end of Tilley

https://twitter.com/x/status/1479387624141770753