The old saying has it that on that point's no such thing as bad publicity.
For organisers of the Aboriginal Australian Open, nonetheless, the developments of the past 48 hours — and what is yet to enter upon the draw near future — may test that assumption like-minded never before.
Tenner days KO'd from the scheduled bulge, the Australian Open is in bedlam, with arguably the tournament's biggest drawcard on the men's English in limbo and the decision-making of organisers and government under intense scrutiny.
The reply to the news that work force's world number one Novak Djokovic had received a medical checkup freedom from vaccination to play in the tournament, followed by the Serbian whizz's arrival in Australia — only to constitute held by the Australian Border Pull off for not having the correct visa — can only be described American Samoa white-hot.
Predictably, the online takes were particularly venomous, well-nig of them contestation against the 20-time grand slam singles champion Djokovic.
But the reaction was non limited to members of the public.
Prime Parson Scott Morrison had responded to skeptical at a COVID press league by warning that Djokovic — WHO was in the air at the time — would beryllium "along the next plane home" if he could not provide proof when he landed of the need for his exemption.
And then, once the ABF free a statement confirming the recently-arrived Djokovic's visa had been rejected, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić added an element of international diplomatic occupy, vowing to "crusade" for Djokovic to be healthy to move into Australia.
The argument has now switched to the court, with Djokovic in in-migration custody sympathetic the conclusion to abnegate him a visa.
The Acceptive is one of lawn tennis' four grand mosh events, the focus of attention for much of the world in the early region of each sporting year.
The crowds, the atmosphere, the hot weather and the quality of the tennis altogether add to a very watchable two weeks at Melbourne Park.
This clock lowest year, however, it all felt same different.
The tournament was delayed into February collectible to COVID, and players — including Djokovic — murmuring about being forced into 14 days of quarantine on arrival in Australia in order to play, and then state government-announced lockdowns meant thither were no crowds for roughly half the tournament.
Extraordinary of tennis' biggest prizes beingness contested in empty stadia had a prejudicial event on the standard atmosphere and the spectacle.
It was non an experience that organisers wanted to repeat.
Just fast forward to 2022, and flush before the turn of the New Year, there were enquiry marks as COVID's new Omicron variant took restrain just about the world.
Swiss superstar Roger Federer had announced well in advance that he would not be playing in Melbourne as helium recovered from his latest round of knee surgery.
Then the week before Christmas, Rafael Nadal revealed atomic number 2 had time-tested positive for COVID in Spain. Nadal — who like Djokovic and Federer has a record 20 grand mosh singles titles to his make — has travelled to Australia for the Aussi Barefaced, but there is no guarantee He will be in shape to go deep into the tournament.
This liberal Djokovic, the only member of the "Big Triad" who remained in top form, a favourite to make believe story by reaching 21 rich slams with a win in the first John Major tournament of the year.
The play played out at Melbourne Airport and now the Federal Electrical circuit and Family Court threatens to derail all that.
What could happen close
The case has been adjourned until Monday, meaning that speculation and uncertainty about the Open will continue for another few days.
Only regardless of the ultimate legal outcome, at that place are a numerate of practicable flow-ons from this situation — none of them secure.
At that place are three elements to the bear upon this plac may have connected the tournament — the response from the public, the feelings of the players (outside of Djokovic) and the thinking of tennis' top administrators overseas.
If Djokovic wins his appeal, and gets to stay and play in the Australian Open, there is a risk the tournament will be completely overshadowed by his presence, and the potential for protests surgery public choler.
With the eyes of the world on Melbourne, any expression of that anger — not to mention confrontations between Djokovic and the crowd, or people being led out of Melbourne Park by security — would event in images and scenes that would do the tournament no favours.
If he loses his attract, the public in the main Crataegus oxycantha be satisfied but the fallout could noneffervescent atomic number 4 respectable.
Djokovic's Serbian supporters commonly put up a outspoken backup man for the world number unitary during his matches in Melbourne — they are unlikely to embody happy if the courts order his removal from Australia.
There could be protests either way at Melbourne Mungo Park, let alone strongly-worded statements from the Serbian government in Belgrade.
Beyond the someone shell, however, there are more serious issues for the tournament and those involved.
Thoughtless of the outcome, there leave be questions raised about Tennis Australia's presidency, led by Craig Tiley, and its plan of attack to the process for the assessment of exemption applications.
Tiley's statements that the visually challenged applications programme process meant Djokovic was not given special treatment have been met with skepticism by some of the public.
With Scripture that Australian Borderline Force officials are investigating another role player and an confirmed WHO were granted exemptions, the glare will be symptomless and truly on administrators, and the reasons why decisions were taken.
Australian Open as a grand slam can't afford PR problems
The expected for reputational damage to the Australian Open is wider than this one issue, however.
Tennis Australia has a contract to detainment the Australian Open in Melbourne until 2039, simply Tiley is already on the record warning of the pressure on organisers to get things rectify ready to livelihood grand slam status.
"Even though we have a contract until 2039 for the governance, information technology doesn't mean that if we didn't have the case for a a few long time and other country assign in a lot of money for a big event that it's easy to play at, and so they [top players] wouldn't add up here," Tiley told SEN radio last February.
"The only reason we induce the players hither is because we offer a lot of prize money and we expend a lot of time pursuing them to come.
"The other grand slams they played last year, they didn't have to vaporize and so long or do 14 days of quarantine, so we have to get the better of those and get the round top players to bring off here."
One of the realities that flow from this is that the Continent Open needs everything to live on right to maintain its support levels.
The players motive to be willing to undergo long-haul travel, and cope with some conditions — COVID-maternal operating theatre otherwise — that lend oneself at the tournament.
Administrators at the ATP (men's tour), WTA (women's tour) and ITF (the governing body of public tennis) need to be confident the tournament can proceed smoothly with strong levels of public and governance support.
If assurance levels drop, operating theatre the attitude of Australian people, officials or government is seen as problematic, then that could represent a big issue for the tournament going forward.
In the meanwhile, it leave be engrossing next workweek to see the incase put wise by Djokovic and his legal team. While TA and others volition Be hoping for a flying decision, the world is that the comportment of the world number one is likely to be hanging over the tourney irrespective whether he wins operating room loses.
Posted , updated
What Happens if You Don't Ground a Ceiling Fan
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-07/novak-djokovic-australian-open-analysis/100742052
0 Comments