Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic sound the alarm: Big question marks behind the tennis tour
The large number of injuries in Melbourne is worrying, and resistance is rising:Alexander Zverev also demands that the tour cannot continue as planned in the pandemic.
by SID
last edit: Feb 18, 2021, 06:32 am
Alexander Zverev had pushed aside the disappointment the morning after his departure from the Australian Open. "Back into the fight" was his motto after getting up, reported Brother Mischa at Eurosport - but the question arises: Where should the fights take place in the coming weeks? Zverev reported for the tournament in Acapulco, Mexico at the beginning of March, but according to his own statement, that is actually complete nonsense at the moment.
"We can't have a traveling tour at the moment," said the 23-year-old after his quarter-final defeat by Novak Djokovic, after all, many countries are pulling up the walls in the pandemic and are imposing strict entry restrictions. "Depending on which passport you have, you may not be allowed to travel to some countries at all," said Zverev. And that's not the only problem. "There will continue to be injuries," said the world number seven.
Djokovic also worried
Zverev, who was plagued by abdominal muscle problems in Melbourne, is not alone with these fears. The flood of injuries is terrifying - and since Djokovic as number one in the world also sees himself as a mouthpiece in the tennis circuit, he also sounded the alarm. "What we see here is not normal," warned the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
For Djokovic, the reason is obvious: the two-week quarantine before the start of the tournament. "Obviously it has something to do with the circumstances we were exposed to," said the Melbourne record champion: "That we are playing a Grand Slam and another tournament right after 14 days of quarantine."
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At the Australian Open there was hardly a top player who did not complain of injuries. At Djokovic and Zverev, like Matteo Berrettini, the abdominal muscles pinched. The Italian was therefore unable to play in his round of 16, while the British Johanna Konta gave up in the first round due to similar complaints. The Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov "couldn't even put on his socks" before his quarter-finals due to back problems, and Rafael Nadal also complained of back problems.
If the tennis circus travels lively from tournament to tournament around the globe as usual, there is a risk of quarantine conditions such as Down Under in other countries due to current travel restrictions - a horror scenario for professionals. "I've spoken to a lot of players. The majority don't want to continue if we have to be quarantined before most tournaments," said Djokovic. Before the Australian Open, the players would have gladly accepted this because of the high prize money - according to Djokovic, this would look different in smaller tournaments.
NBA role model?
At the beginning of March, tournaments in Rotterdam, Buenos Aires, Doha and Acapulco are on the program. But Zverev has a different idea: "Maybe the ATP should consider how to play several tournaments in the same place over several weeks."
Djokovic recalled the North American professional basketball league NBA, which had played its last season at Disney World in Orlando / Florida to the end. "We have to discuss options," he said. "To be honest, I don't know how we're going to deal with them. But we have to do it very quickly."
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