With Thiem, Djokovic, Nadal - The "Super Flyer" starts in Barcelona
Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem will set off for Australia together. To be more precise: to Adelaide, where the top three world rankings will be preparing for the Australian Open. After a 14-day quarantine.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 13, 2021, 02:26 pm
Such a top-class flight has probably only rarely taken place in tennis history: In a few hours Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem will leave Barcelona for Adelaide, with their training partners and a few supervisors. This travel group can only be compared to the ski trio Marcel Hirscher, Alexis Pinturault and Henrik Kristoffersen, who were transported by helicopter from one competition location to the next by their joint sponsor, Red Bull.
In the case of tennis stars, however, things are different. Especially since the top three also have other people in tow: Dominic Thiem, for example, has chosen Dennis Novak as training partner, who will be part of the Adelaide group as well as father Wolfgang and brother Moritz Thiem and physiotherapist Alex Stober. Novak Djokovic has reportedly decided on Filip Krajinovic as a playmate during the first week of the 14-day quarantine, with Rafael Nadal many signs point to Jannik Sinner (even if the Marca recently questioned this slightly and Marc Lopez came into play had brought). The last few years have also shown that Carlos Moya, Nadal's coach, can still play a fine ball.
Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem have to train together
All players have to spend two weeks in quarantine after arriving in Australia - whether in Adelaide or Melbourne. With the exemption, however, that the tennis professionals are allowed to train outside the hotel for five hours a day. Initially only with a single designated partner, after a week it can be mixed. However, this could turn out to be rather difficult in the specific situation - the rest of the men will be housed in Melbourne. On the other hand: Training sessions of the three best players in the world at the moment with each other should be beyond any doubt.
If the gentlemen are looking for further diversion on the tennis court - at least four top women are also housed in Adelaide: Naomi Osaka , Ashleigh Barty , Simona Halep and Serena Williams . It is not yet known who these four will bring as training partners. In the case of Serena, one can assume that it will probably be sister Venus Williams .
There is no disadvantage for the aces: In Adelaide the flooring is the same as at the Australian Open. With the restriction that even in Melbourne Park there are differences between the individual courts: The outdoor courts usually play a little faster than the Rod Laver Arena, for example. The balls have already been used for training, including in Europe. In addition, after the two exhibition fights in Adelaide on January 29 and 30, there is still a whole week to fine-tune in Melbouren: For Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and DominicTheim at the ATP Cup, where two Individual appearances are guaranteed.