Australian Open: Boris Becker - title win without Djokovic with a bland aftertaste
Novak Djokovic is back in Serbia - but at the start of the Australian Open he was still a topic of conversation.
by SID
last edit: Jan 17, 2022, 04:43 pm
After the turbulent days in the bright spotlight, Novak Djokovic disappeared unnoticed through a side exit. No sooner had the fallen tennis hero landed at Nikola Tesla Airport in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, than he was swiftly smuggled past the waiting reporters. Even the few fans who had posted themselves with flags and banners in front of the terminal did not see their beloved darling.
On the first day of the Australian Open in Melbourne, there was great relief that after the expulsion of the world number one, the focus was back on sport instead of paragraphs. "I'm pretty fed up," said Rafael Nadal when asked about the Djokovic saga, which overlaid all sporting events before the tournament started on Monday. The topic got "so annoying at some point," said Andrea Petkovic after her defeat in the first round.
French Open only with vaccinated players
Of course, the topic will not go away anytime soon, because another problem has arisen for Djokovic. As the AFP news agency reported on Monday, citing government circles, all athletes who want to take part in competitions in France will have to be vaccinated in the future. Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu said last week that exceptions could apply to events like the French Open, but now the opposite seems possible.
"At least it's clear what's happening," said Olympic champion Alexander Zverev on Monday in Melbourne when asked about developments in France: "Then there won't be the mistakes that happened here."
Kecmanovic wants to 'avenge' Djokovic
In the meantime, Djokovic can continue to be sure of the moral support of his compatriots. Miomir Kecmanovic, against whom the designated number one should have played on Monday in the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, emphasized that he and all the other Serbs in the tournament had now decided to "do everything to avenge Djokovic" and "make him proud close". Kecmanovic took a first step by beating Salvatore Caruso 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.
Djokovic was already on his way home. With a mask on his face, two bags in his hands and still great disappointment in his clothes, the 34-year-old Serb first climbed out of the plane during a stopover in Dubai and then traveled on. He wants to find some peace in Belgrade first, but after his expulsion he has to watch the fight for the trophy, which he has already won nine times, from a distance, if he wants to.
Becker worries about the value of the title
Boris Becker therefore claims that "the new tournament winner may have a bad aftertaste because he doesn't have to beat the best," so clearly, he added at Eurosport, "you have to see that", because: The upper part of the tournament tableau is now significantly weaker. Becker is close to Djokovic as his ex-coach, but also says: "We should focus on the players who are there. As Rafael Nadal rightly said, no player is bigger than the tournament."
Nadal added on Monday that justice had prevailed, but Djokovic was not the sole culprit for the "chaos" that overlaid the Australian Open before the start. Former world number one Naomi Osaka was far less emotional after her smooth 6: 3, 6: 3 first round win against Colombian Camila Osorio. "I didn't watch the news too often," said the 24-year-old unperturbed.
For Djokovic there is at least a glimmer of hope for his future at the Australian Open. After the visa was revoked, he would not be allowed to enter Down Under for the next three years, according to the applicable regulations, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a radio interview: "Under the right circumstances" an earlier return is possible, which would then become a "given point in time" are considered.
Here is the men's individual tableau
laver arena