Australian Open 2022 [Men] - Grand Slam

[tented]

Thnx. I think luck is smiling upon Kecmanovic since he hasn't won like 5 matches in last year or so. Remember he came looking like a solid young player a few years ago.

He may end up playing Rublev, so while he may not have to face Novak, he may still have to face a top player.

 

[don_fabio]

Actually, I think I should restate this. Or we should check, as it could impact our draw challenge,and millions of dollars are at stake there. lol. Once the schedule is made for Monday, then they won't slot Rublev in...it will go to a LL. I think that's right. So time is running out.

If Novak comes to play by some miracle, he should double up his box. Half his team half lawyers. But seriously, at this point I think that ship has sailed and he will not participate. The only question remains when we will know it.

I'll do the draw, how could I skip that.

 

[don_fabio]

He may end up playing Rublev, so while he may not have to face Novak, he may still have to face a top player.

My guess is saga continues until the very end and some other dude gets to play Kecmanovic

 

[Kieran]

I think they should cancel the Australian Open - we've had more than enough excitement coming out of Australia for this year, thank you very much...

 

[tented]

My guess is saga continues until the very end and some other dude gets to play Kecmanovic

It depends on whether or not Novak has been replaced prior to the release of Monday’s order of play:

”Any vacancy created by the withdrawal of a seed which occurs after the release of the order of play for the first day of the Main Draw shall be filled by eligible Lucky Losers.”

If Novak’s spot is filled between now and the release of the order of play, then Rublev will get the top spot and play Kecmanovic.

I hope at this point the organizers will remove Novak from the draw within the next day or two — prior to the release of Monday’s order of play. It would be really unfair to the other players, especially the top seeds, if they fill the top position with a LL, or have Novak play one match, then withdraw. Tennis Australia should make a statement to the effect of “We can’t allow one player’s troubles to affect the entire tournament, so we’re removing him from the draw.”

 

[Kieran]

It depends on whether or not Novak has been replaced prior to the release of Monday’s order of play:

”Any vacancy created by the withdrawal of a seed which occurs after the release of the order of play for the first day of the Main Draw shall be filled by eligible Lucky Losers.”

If Novak’s spot is filled between now and the release of the order of play, then Rublev will get the top spot and play Kecmanovic.

I hope at this point the organizers will remove Novak from the draw within the next day or two — prior to the release of Monday’s order of play. It would be really unfair to the other players, especially the top seeds, if they fill the top position with a LL, or have Novak play one match, then withdraw. Tennis Australia should make a statement to the effect of “We can’t allow one player’s troubles to affect the entire tournament, so we’re removing him from the draw.”

I think the problem for them is that if they withdraw Novak and he then goes on to win his case, then they'll have withdrawn him with no legal basis for doing that? This would open a whole new category of worms...

 

[tented]

I think the problem for them is that if they withdraw Novak and he then goes on to win his case, then they'll have withdrawn him with no legal basis for doing that? This would open a whole new category of worms...

That’s a possibility, but at the same time should everyone else in the draw have to be put on hold because of one person? There must be a legal clause they can point to in order to justify removing a player before the tournament begins, even if it’s the top seed, because there are too many potential disruptions to allow things to progress smoothly. If the players were polled anonymously, I bet there would be very little support for keeping Novak in the draw, and would welcome his removal.

 

[Kieran]

That’s a possibility, but at the same time should everyone else in the draw have to be put on hold because of one person? There must be a legal clause they can point to in order to justify removing a player before the tournament begins, even if it’s the top seed, because there are too many potential disruptions to allow things to progress smoothly. If the players were polled anonymously, I bet there would be very little support for keeping Novak in the draw, and would welcome his removal.

I agree, and you're probably right about that. If a player is involved in lawsuits that might affect their participation, etc. As I said so many times, Novak would finally show some integrity in this matter by withdrawing. I'm not even sure if I'm interested in the tennis so much now, it's been made to look ridiculous...

 

[tented]

I agree, and you're probably right about that. If a player is involved in lawsuits that might affect their participation, etc.

Exactly. They should make a statement such as, “We’re sorry Novak Djokovic will not be able to play in this year’s Australian Open, but there are too many unknowns involving his participation, and it‘s unfair to the other players to allow all of this to disrupt them as well.”

 

[don_fabio]

I agree, and you're probably right about that. If a player is involved in lawsuits that might affect their participation, etc. As I said so many times, Novak would finally show some integrity in this matter by withdrawing. I'm not even sure if I'm interested in the tennis so much now, it's been made to look ridiculous...

The question is why he hasn't withdrawn by now? He is detained again, he can't train. Does he still believe he has a chance or is it just his pride at this point?

 

[Kieran]

The question is why he hasn't withdrawn by now? He is detained again, he can't train. Does he still believe he has a chance or is it just his pride at this point?

I think his pride, to be honest with you. He’s taken huge dents to his character this week. He’s like a man obsessed about breaking records, that he’s lost a bit of himself. I think of him now as Moby Djok, the crazed man who blocks out anything that doesn’t help him in his obsession. There’s a great sadness in all this, because if he’s right then he’s been terribly treated and wronged by a lot of us, and if he’s acting wrongly in this, then he’s completely lost his way, and I suspect that this is true. And that’s a problem that I’d sympathise with him on…

 

[El Dude]

I think his pride, to be honest with you. He’s taken huge dents to his character this week. He’s like a man obsessed about breaking records, that he’s lost a bit of himself. I think of him now as Moby Djok, the crazed man who blocks out anything that doesn’t help him in his obsession. There’s a great sadness in all this, because if he’s right then he’s been terribly treated and wronged by a lot of us, and if he’s acting wrongly in this, then he’s completely lost his way, and I suspect that this is true. And that’s a problem that I’d sympathise with him on…

Moby Djok. LOL. I like it.

Anyhow, I don't think it has to be either/or. Australia has been nuts this last year plus, yet it also seems like Novak has tried to skirt around things. Meaning, it could be that he's been terribly treated AND he's acted wrongly.

 

[tented]

Moby Djok. LOL. I like it.

Anyhow, I don't think it has to be either/or. Australia has been nuts this last year plus, yet it also seems like Novak has tried to skirt around things. Meaning, it could be that he's been terribly treated AND he's acted wrongly.

That’s spot on, IMO. It has been a bit of both: miscommunications between various factions in Australia, and Novak trying to get away with so many inconsistencies and irregularities.

 

[the AntiPusher]

From what I saw from Medvedev in the ATP Cup in Sydney,I feel he has a strong chance of winning the AO title.

A rested and healthy Rafa will defeat him again on hardcourts at AO.

 

[Fiero425]

That’s a possibility, but at the same time should everyone else in the draw have to be put on hold because of one person? There must be a legal clause they can point to in order to justify removing a player before the tournament begins, even if it’s the top seed, because there are too many potential disruptions to allow things to progress smoothly. If the players were polled anonymously, I bet there would be very little support for keeping Novak in the draw, and would welcome his removal.

Well DUH; they want to win! Like Rafa @ FO, players hoped for something to happen to him! Novak has tons of support though! Haters just make more noise! I'm not defending Novak's actions or decisions, but "it is what it is!" He wants to play and that's why we have intelligent arguments to decide these things! Right now, Australia has every right to make conditions for entry, but separate entities within have confused the issue leading to this debacle! That isn't on him even though all this could have been avoid by "a poke!" The thing is, he isn't the only top athlete objecting to this mandate! In the States we have Kyrie Irving who lost millions of $$ refusing to submit to local mandate! Aaron Rodgers actually deflected about his own vaccination status until discovered he wasn't and picked up virus at Halloween party! Antonio Brown was ready to commit a felony by purchasing a vaccination card! It doesn't make it right, but let's not make out Novak's being the lone a-hole in the world! -

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Innocent victim is Andrey Rublev.Rublev won't know until late Sunday night if he should be preparing to play Kecmanovic on Monday or Mager on Tuesday.

 

[Fiero425]

Innocent victim is Andrey Rublev.Rublev won't know until late Sunday night if he should be preparing to play Kecmanovic on Monday or Mager on Tuesday.

There are a lot more innocent people being affected by this travesty, but again this isn't on Novak as much as TA, Vict. Province, and the Fed!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

There are a lot more innocent people being affected by this travesty but again this isn't on Novak as much as TA, Vict. Province, and the Fed!

I am looking at the draw...cant help yourself defending Novak,who is not Bigger than the Game of Tennis...
Making false declarations like he did and tried to put his team under the bus? LOL!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A rested and healthy Rafa will defeat him again on hardcourts at AO.

Well you are more faith than I by the way at present.I will eat 'humble pie' if that does happen btw.

 

[Kieran]

Well DUH; they want to win! Like Rafa @ FO, players hoped for something to happen to him! Novak has tons of support though! Haters just make more noise! I'm not defending Novak's actions or decisions, but "it is what it is!" He wants to play and that's why we have intelligent arguments to decide these things! Right now, Australia has every right to make conditions for entry, but separate entities within have confused the issue leading to this debacle! That isn't on him even though all this could have been avoid by "a poke!" The thing is, he isn't the only top athlete objecting to this mandate! In the States we have Kyrie Irving who lost millions of $$ refusing to submit to local mandate! Aaron Rodgers actually deflected about his own vaccination status until discovered he wasn't and picked up virus at Halloween party! Antonio Brown was ready to commit a felony by purchasing a vaccination card! It doesn't make it right, but let's not make out Novak's being the lone a-hole in the world! -

I admire Kyrie Irving for that stance. He has a principle and he’s willing to lose in order to keep his integrity.

But Novak isn’t on the same team as Irving. Novak isn’t defending his principle. He’s trying to have his cake and eat it. He doesn’t want to lose anything, while still being thought of as a principled man. He may end up in the worst of both worlds - by taking a huge loss, and being considered highly unprincipled - by the time this is finished…