Djokovic certainly bears some blame for being a complete fruitcake, however I think the lion's share belongs with Tennis Australia. Why? Because TA clearly told Djoker, "she'll be right," assuming that his star power would be enough to smooth over any issues - despite the crystal clear advice they had to the contrary.
I understand why that would assume that. Djokovic and other star players for example did not have to deal with the same quarantine issues other players had last year. More damningly, my government has a solid track record of making special exemptions for rich/connected folk throughout the pandemic, with a cavalcade of celebrities and millionaires experiencing only minimal difficulty travelling during the lockdown both interstate and internationally. This was at a time when I, as a citizen, was essentially blocked from going home, mind you.
But TA didn't bargain on Novak's silly insta post, the skyrocketing cases and consequent fury of the public, and finally the desperation of a deeply unpopular federal government to latch onto something - anything - to take attention away from their shambolic handling of the virus.
Hello Matthew. Thanks for taking the time to provide us with an all-around analyzis of this truly astounding display of... human beings in their 3rd year of a pandemic, at the beginning of a pivotal year 2022 worldwide.
Perso, I still cannot truly visualize how the extremely experienced and focused strategist/tactician of statropheric level that is Djokovic actually managed to trap himself for "The Kick" (everything about the "The Kick" itself, its aftermath to date and whatever else yet to come, being highly predictable/unavoidable/etc, given those specific players, in those specific circumstances, in that specific country, at this specific time), this "Kick" playing out after Djokovic and his team had known/thought/discussed/planned/etc his/their way into Australia for the AO 2022 for months ahead of time.
Hence, I tend to agree with Nadal's general stance on this = had Djokovic truly wanted to get into Australia quietly for the AO 2022, he would already have been practicing in Melbourne last weekend.
There is definitely a very djokovician feeling about this apparently "insane" situation.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, Djokovic being Djokovic, who knows? It might turn out over the coming weeks/months to have been Djokovic's self-induced, self-made rather machiavelic pathway to building up self-belief, self-validation, self-impetus, etc. = in a nutshell, launching himself onto his next ego/tennis/career/legacy statrosphere = launching himself (in his own being that is, mind/spirit/body) not only apart, but also above Federer and Nadal.
Such apparent self-savaging somehow directed at/converted into real self-lauching energy has always worked out rather well for Djokovic in the past, no?
Hi Matt, thanks for this thorough and balanced take on the situation. It's just sad all around, to be honest. Like many others, I was baffled by Djokovic's decision to announce publicly on social media that he had gotten an exemption. But then again, I think that if he hadn't said anything, and it was leaked that he'd gotten an exemption, the conspiracy theories would only have intensified since it would have appeared as though he was trying to pass off as vaccinated and/or to hide the fact of his exemption. So I rather suspect he (or his PR team) thought transparency from the get-go would be the better strategy. Obviously, that backfired.
Personally I just can't see the Australian government reversing its decision once they've made it, but I would love to be proven wrong and to see Djokovic play in the tournament. Unless his medical exemption was really erroneously granted, it seems a pity to let a chain of bureaucratic mistakes and possibly political posturing mar a sporting event like that.
Agree with your overview. Vaccine mandates are unnecessary but you either make them non negotiable or the cracks will inevitably appear regarding exemptions. Cannot wait for RG and Macron’s ridiculous booster requirement for 18+ to actually take part in normal life. If he gives exemptions, those barricades will be manned and I might join them…….
I actually think Novak shld hv refused to come and made a statement about vaccine mandates etc
Djokovic certainly bears some blame for being a complete fruitcake, however I think the lion's share belongs with Tennis Australia. Why? Because TA clearly told Djoker, "she'll be right," assuming that his star power would be enough to smooth over any issues - despite the crystal clear advice they had to the contrary.
I understand why that would assume that. Djokovic and other star players for example did not have to deal with the same quarantine issues other players had last year. More damningly, my government has a solid track record of making special exemptions for rich/connected folk throughout the pandemic, with a cavalcade of celebrities and millionaires experiencing only minimal difficulty travelling during the lockdown both interstate and internationally. This was at a time when I, as a citizen, was essentially blocked from going home, mind you.
But TA didn't bargain on Novak's silly insta post, the skyrocketing cases and consequent fury of the public, and finally the desperation of a deeply unpopular federal government to latch onto something - anything - to take attention away from their shambolic handling of the virus.
Craig Tiley should be resigning, imho.
Bye bye Joker 🃏!!
Hello Matthew. Thanks for taking the time to provide us with an all-around analyzis of this truly astounding display of... human beings in their 3rd year of a pandemic, at the beginning of a pivotal year 2022 worldwide.
Perso, I still cannot truly visualize how the extremely experienced and focused strategist/tactician of statropheric level that is Djokovic actually managed to trap himself for "The Kick" (everything about the "The Kick" itself, its aftermath to date and whatever else yet to come, being highly predictable/unavoidable/etc, given those specific players, in those specific circumstances, in that specific country, at this specific time), this "Kick" playing out after Djokovic and his team had known/thought/discussed/planned/etc his/their way into Australia for the AO 2022 for months ahead of time.
Hence, I tend to agree with Nadal's general stance on this = had Djokovic truly wanted to get into Australia quietly for the AO 2022, he would already have been practicing in Melbourne last weekend.
There is definitely a very djokovician feeling about this apparently "insane" situation.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, Djokovic being Djokovic, who knows? It might turn out over the coming weeks/months to have been Djokovic's self-induced, self-made rather machiavelic pathway to building up self-belief, self-validation, self-impetus, etc. = in a nutshell, launching himself onto his next ego/tennis/career/legacy statrosphere = launching himself (in his own being that is, mind/spirit/body) not only apart, but also above Federer and Nadal.
Such apparent self-savaging somehow directed at/converted into real self-lauching energy has always worked out rather well for Djokovic in the past, no?
Hi Matt, thanks for this thorough and balanced take on the situation. It's just sad all around, to be honest. Like many others, I was baffled by Djokovic's decision to announce publicly on social media that he had gotten an exemption. But then again, I think that if he hadn't said anything, and it was leaked that he'd gotten an exemption, the conspiracy theories would only have intensified since it would have appeared as though he was trying to pass off as vaccinated and/or to hide the fact of his exemption. So I rather suspect he (or his PR team) thought transparency from the get-go would be the better strategy. Obviously, that backfired.
Personally I just can't see the Australian government reversing its decision once they've made it, but I would love to be proven wrong and to see Djokovic play in the tournament. Unless his medical exemption was really erroneously granted, it seems a pity to let a chain of bureaucratic mistakes and possibly political posturing mar a sporting event like that.
Agree with your overview. Vaccine mandates are unnecessary but you either make them non negotiable or the cracks will inevitably appear regarding exemptions. Cannot wait for RG and Macron’s ridiculous booster requirement for 18+ to actually take part in normal life. If he gives exemptions, those barricades will be manned and I might join them…….
I actually think Novak shld hv refused to come and made a statement about vaccine mandates etc