Tennis G.O.A.T?

focuszing723

https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1481884084322418692?cxt=HHwWiIC-xaXu2pApAAAA

focuszing723

...

Dorset_Boy

He'll appeal again no doubt, but suspect this time his filing irregularities will count against him.

Pross

I think his best course now is to say he'll leave today if they guarantee an exemption on the 3 year rule.

DeVlaeminck

pblakeney said:

DeVlaeminck said:

pblakeney said:

DeVlaeminck said:

If Australia's concern is people bringing in Covid there's a very obvious and cheap way to prevent that - a test before or on arrival.

Which they do, followed by quarantine. Some try to get round the inconvenience. Some footballers from South America tried (and failed) to beat the system coming back to Europe. Some just think they are too important. They are wrong.

Tests are not conclusive. Our son had tests before departure and on arrival, both were negative. He caught covid in transit.

There have been well over a million cases of Covid in Australia. I'm pretty sure that with a proper testing protocol international sport would offer a tiny risk of adding to those numbers.

It's their right to be inflexible but they shouldn't expect international sport to accommodate them. The bottom line is a lot of athletes around the world are not vaccinated - that could be worked round at no real risk to anyone - so why no just do that?

We know that 2 vaccines barely affect the chances of catching and passing on Covid anyway so why is this a sticking point?
Is it to make life difficult for the unvaccinated - some kind of punishment?

So, how come all the other entrants to the Open are there?
The issue is not with the athletes, it is with stubborn self centred athletes.
Get a vaccine, or go into quarantine, or don't go.
Choices, actions, consequences. Deal with it.

Well not all the other entrants are there are they.

Bit you are missing the point I made. Of course Australia can impose pointless immigration rules if it chooses to - all I said was it shouldn't then be able to hold international competitions such as Olympics, World Champs, World Cup including qualifiers etc because these are world competitions and it's not their right to impose vaccination to compete.

In short Australia can make its own choices and deal with the consequences.

And today's announcement they've revoked his visa on the grounds he's a threat to the health and safety of their population is surely a misuse of power - but Aussies seem to like authoritarian govt so...

First.Aspect

In time, I predict that they will more definitively show that his PCR test was dodgy.

At this stage, it is all about messaging and politics though, not public health. He seems to have had it cancelled on the grounds of being a nob. Australia would be pretty sparsely populated if that was applied across the board.

kingstongraham

Pross said:

I think his best course now is to say he'll leave today if they guarantee an exemption on the 3 year rule.

Unless he gets vaccinated what's the chances he gets back in anyway?

rick_chasey

As a sports fan I regularly take a dislike to various athletes on nothing but a whim, on the brief period I am watching them doing their profession.

Sometimes it's nice to find out that that hunch was absolutely bang on.

He's clearly a total nobber and it is classic Djokovic to be such a nobber that he escalates the situation way beyond what is really necessary.

Either get vaccinated or shut up. It's not that big a deal. It's only tennis. Players miss out on major tournaments through injury all the time.

Instead he's backed the Aussie government into a decision that's unpopular either way.

Dorset_Boy

262 lock down days in Melborne. The Australian border has been pretty much closed for 2 years, and in some states still hasn't opened up (Western Australia isn't due to open its border until 5th February). They've waited until getting vast majority doubled jabbed, or triple jabbed.

And along comes an anti-vaxer, who claims to have had a positive PCR on 16 Dec, but was out and about on 17 and 18 Dec, maskless, and then failed to fully declare the countries he's been in.
I'm amazed he got close the the plane in the first place, and almost as amazed he hasn't been deported already.
The general mood amongst the aussie public seems to be 'good bye Novax, you should never have tried to come here'.

Dorset_Boy

First.Aspect said:

In time, I predict that they will more definitively show that his PCR test was dodgy.

At this stage, it is all about messaging and politics though, not public health. He seems to have had it cancelled on the grounds of being a nob. Australia would be pretty sparsely populated if that was applied across the board.

Guess it takes one to know one.

First.Aspect

Dorset_Boy said:

First.Aspect said:

In time, I predict that they will more definitively show that his PCR test was dodgy.

At this stage, it is all about messaging and politics though, not public health. He seems to have had it cancelled on the grounds of being a nob. Australia would be pretty sparsely populated if that was applied across the board.

Guess it takes one to know one.

How wude.

Pross

DeVlaeminck said:

pblakeney said:

DeVlaeminck said:

pblakeney said:

DeVlaeminck said:

If Australia's concern is people bringing in Covid there's a very obvious and cheap way to prevent that - a test before or on arrival.

Which they do, followed by quarantine. Some try to get round the inconvenience. Some footballers from South America tried (and failed) to beat the system coming back to Europe. Some just think they are too important. They are wrong.

Tests are not conclusive. Our son had tests before departure and on arrival, both were negative. He caught covid in transit.

There have been well over a million cases of Covid in Australia. I'm pretty sure that with a proper testing protocol international sport would offer a tiny risk of adding to those numbers.

It's their right to be inflexible but they shouldn't expect international sport to accommodate them. The bottom line is a lot of athletes around the world are not vaccinated - that could be worked round at no real risk to anyone - so why no just do that?

We know that 2 vaccines barely affect the chances of catching and passing on Covid anyway so why is this a sticking point?
Is it to make life difficult for the unvaccinated - some kind of punishment?

So, how come all the other entrants to the Open are there?
The issue is not with the athletes, it is with stubborn self centred athletes.
Get a vaccine, or go into quarantine, or don't go.
Choices, actions, consequences. Deal with it.

Well not all the other entrants are there are they.

Bit you are missing the point I made. Of course Australia can impose pointless immigration rules if it chooses to - all I said was it shouldn't then be able to hold international competitions such as Olympics, World Champs, World Cup including qualifiers etc because these are world competitions and it's not their right to impose vaccination to compete.

In short Australia can make its own choices and deal with the consequences.

And today's announcement they've revoked his visa on the grounds he's a threat to the health and safety of their population is surely a misuse of power - but Aussies seem to like authoritarian govt so...

Sure and that's up to the likes of the ATP or WTA to decide. If they decided the rules are too onerous for the players they could presumably remove it from the calendar but do you really think that would happen?

That isn't currently the case though. Djokovic has held questionable views throughout (highlighted by continuing as normal after an apparent positive test) and now that has caught up with him so he needs to accept the consequences of his personal beliefs and actions.

DeVlaeminck

Djokovic has never been my cup either of tea but come on it can't be ok to misuse powers just because we don't like the guy. I'm just going by the press reports which say the power under which he's been expelled is to protect the public from a threat to their health, safety or good order (whatever good order means).

Now if they expel him for breaking rules on his application then fine - if that's proven and that is the appropriate sanction.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

As a sports fan I regularly take a dislike to various athletes on nothing but a whim, on the brief period I am watching them doing their profession.

Sometimes it's nice to find out that that hunch was absolutely bang on.

He's clearly a total nobber and it is classic Djokovic to be such a nobber that he escalates the situation way beyond what is really necessary.

Either get vaccinated or shut up. It's not that big a deal. It's only tennis. Players miss out on major tournaments through injury all the time.

Instead he's backed the Aussie government into a decision that's unpopular either way.

I know what you mean. He's always been inherently dislikeable.

You know I like (used to like F1). This is a bit like Michael Schumacher, Max Vestappen, Lewis Hamilton frankly, vs. Hunt (likeable chicane), Prost (who couldn't like someone with that nose), Button (inexplicable, but he's likeable), Mansell (likeable buffoon) or even Piquet (likeable sr$ehol3), Senna (likeable sociopath).

Pross

DeVlaeminck said:

Djokovic has never been my cup either of tea but come on it can't be ok to misuse powers just because we don't like the guy. I'm just going by the press reports which say the power under which he's been expelled is to protect the public from a threat to their health, safety or good order (whatever good order means).

Now if they expel him for breaking rules on his application then fine - if that's proven and that is the appropriate sanction.

I would argue he proved that point for them by failing to isolate when positive. If he was prepared to do that it seems reasonable to argue he could be athreat to their health. The risk of protests could also come into play under that clause.

First.Aspect

Pross said:

DeVlaeminck said:

Djokovic has never been my cup either of tea but come on it can't be ok to misuse powers just because we don't like the guy. I'm just going by the press reports which say the power under which he's been expelled is to protect the public from a threat to their health, safety or good order (whatever good order means).

Now if they expel him for breaking rules on his application then fine - if that's proven and that is the appropriate sanction.

I would argue he proved that point for them by failing to isolate when positive. If he was prepared to do that it seems reasonable to argue he could be athreat to their health. The risk of protests could also come into play under that clause.

That my take as well. The govt argument will be, he is a liar and he is reckless, so how can we trust that if he catches it he will self isolate.

He will be doing interview in Serbian TV by Sunday, I reckon.

DeVlaeminck

I mean come on - he's not got Covid he's there for a short time and he's so high profile he's hardly likely to get Covid then go on a meet and greet.

We all know it's a misuse of power - I get that people assume he's cheated the system, I get others think he should be vaccinated - but these things don't excuse a govt making stuff up on the fly.

shirley_basso

I can't tell if you are joking or not.

ugo.santalucia

My issue with Djokovic stance is about his determination to avoid vaccines. As a private citizen, you do as you like, or better, you act within the law, but when a large portion of your income comes from endorsements, which are proportional to the number of followers you have, then in essence you are paid to be an example to other people and as such you carry some degree of responsibility over your behaviour.
I don't think it is a coincidence that vaccination rate in Serbia is among the lowest in the Western world, his stance doesn't really help the cause!

Therefore, anything that punishes him and reduces his income finds my approval, no matter how outlandish the reasons to punish him are. In this particular case, there is a rule, he breached the rule, he needs to be expelled... it's pretty black on white from where I stand. And I hope he will not be allowed in Australia for 3 years, the same as every body else in the same position

DeVlaeminck

Asperger's?

It's similar to the situation early in the pandemic here where the police were enforcing guidance issued off the cuff by govt ministers.

I just think govts should have to follow official processes and law rather than making it up for political popularity which is the case in Australia with Djokovic.

First.Aspect

You do realise he literally went on a meet and greet with Covid, twice, right?

Govt might also question whether he's had Omicron or not. If he's had delta he'd be a reinfection risk.

It is about public opinion, I agree. Legally does that have a bearing on public interest? I think it does, which makes it even worse for him.

seanoconn

Off topic. Andy Murray into the Sydney final. Watching highlights of his semi he’s playing extremely well, best he’s played since he’s op by far.

DeVlaeminck

First.Aspect said:

You do realise he literally went on a meet and greet with Covid, twice, right?

Govt might also question whether he's had Omicron or not. If he's had delta he'd be a reinfection risk.

It is about public opinion, I agree. Legally does that have a bearing on public interest? I think it does, which makes it even worse for him.

Yes but do you believe he had Covid when he attended those events in Serbia?

If they are expelling him for a valid reason no problem - if they say he lied on his application and have sufficient evidence to satisfy their legal system no problem.

Even the BBC correspondent says its political
"A lot has been said about the motivation behind this - mainly that it's political. And it is. The blaring politics is impossible to escape."

ugo.santalucia

I also expect the castle will begin to crumble under his feet. If he can't play out of his law infringements, then I hope his sponsors will begin to abandon him, one by one, as they normally do once they realise their asset is toxic!

Hopefully he will be a thing of the past very soon

wallace_and_gromit

seanoconn said:

Off topic. Andy Murray into the Sydney final. Watching highlights of his semi he’s playing extremely well, best he’s played since he’s op by far.

Ten years too late, Murray will get further than Novax in the Aussie Open!

kingstongraham

Dorset_Boy said:

262 lock down days in Melborne. The Australian border has been pretty much closed for 2 years, and in some states still hasn't opened up (Western Australia isn't due to open its border until 5th February). They've waited until getting vast majority doubled jabbed, or triple jabbed.

And along comes an anti-vaxer, who claims to have had a positive PCR on 16 Dec, but was out and about on 17 and 18 Dec, maskless, and then failed to fully declare the countries he's been in.
I'm amazed he got close the the plane in the first place, and almost as amazed he hasn't been deported already.
The general mood amongst the aussie public seems to be 'good bye Novax, you should never have tried to come here'.

I heard it put to a Serbian journalist earlier that Australia had a tough lockdown and her response was essentially "you want to talk about having a tough time to someone who grew up in Serbia?"

ugo.santalucia

Interestingly, Anna Kournikova never won a singles title in her career, which peaked at no. 8 in the rankings...
Bet she was making more money than the Williams at the time...

First.Aspect

DeVlaeminck said:

First.Aspect said:

You do realise he literally went on a meet and greet with Covid, twice, right?

Govt might also question whether he's had Omicron or not. If he's had delta he'd be a reinfection risk.

It is about public opinion, I agree. Legally does that have a bearing on public interest? I think it does, which makes it even worse for him.

Yes but do you believe he had Covid when he attended those events in Serbia?

If they are expelling him for a valid reason no problem - if they say he lied on his application and have sufficient evidence to satisfy their legal system no problem.

Even the BBC correspondent says its political
"A lot has been said about the motivation behind this - mainly that it's political. And it is. The blaring politics is impossible to escape."

So, either he didn't have Covid when he attended those events and clearly shouldn't have a visa, or he did have Covid when he attended those events and he is a risk to public health because he is reckless and untrustworthy.

Is there another option I've missed?

dabber

First.Aspect said:

DeVlaeminck said:

First.Aspect said:

You do realise he literally went on a meet and greet with Covid, twice, right?

Govt might also question whether he's had Omicron or not. If he's had delta he'd be a reinfection risk.

It is about public opinion, I agree. Legally does that have a bearing on public interest? I think it does, which makes it even worse for him.

Yes but do you believe he had Covid when he attended those events in Serbia?

If they are expelling him for a valid reason no problem - if they say he lied on his application and have sufficient evidence to satisfy their legal system no problem.

Even the BBC correspondent says its political
"A lot has been said about the motivation behind this - mainly that it's political. And it is. The blaring politics is impossible to escape."

So, either he didn't have Covid when he attended those events and clearly shouldn't have a visa, or he did have Covid when he attended those events and he is a risk to public health because he is reckless and untrustworthy.

Is there another option I've missed?

Exactly

photonic69

He's a very dislikeable litte shyster and glad he's been booted out.

One thing has just struck me - for years we've all been against and calling out those that use needles in sports, yet here we are doing exactly the opposite. I know it's for different purposes but it still seemed a little ironic and gave me a wry smile. Anyway, send the jab-shy fekker packing and let that be a lesson to others.