Australian Open 2023 [Men] - Grand Slam

[tented]

 

[nehmeth]

There should be a tennis recovery group for players with troublesome parents…

As a Djokovic fan, I think that’s inexcusable.

I admired Federer’s parents. Always supportive. Always there for the big events. They never used his popularity to promote themselves.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am still waiting for Tennis Australia/Craig Tiley to come out and revoke Novak's father accreditation, this time he has 'gone too far' The Players, coaches, families, etc were told about the current situation regarding the Russian and Belarusian flags etc.
Novak's father was escorted out of RG in 2008, I was there to witness his 'tantrums' he was playing Rafa in the QFs
My husband and I were at the 2008 AO final and sat 4 rows behind the Djokovic family, when the father has a ' hizzy fit' because he didnt want French fans near him, he asked the officials to move them, when they did not he got up in a huff and stormed out of RLA, my husband and I just 'eye rolled' each other
Of course who could forget when Novak did win the AO 2008 final, he mother proclaimed The King Is Dead ( referring to Roger Federer)
The funniest times was at MC on the clay, when both the parents were having a go at Roger Federer and Federer in his best German/Swiss accent told them to 'Be Quiet"
Thank goodness as Nehmeth pointed out Federer's parents and I also include Rafa's parents are 'class parents'.

 

[Ellentonboy]

Wouldn't be a GS if there wasn't a brawl in the stands now, right? Ah, if we could only go back to the good old days, where people applauded politely for winners, and players exchanged a handshake rather than something that looked like an arm wrestle after the match

But that would be asking for too much, huh?

 

[Jelenafan]

Keep in mind this is the same man who commented about his son’s treatment last year.

“Jesus was crucified and endured many things but is still alive among us. Novak is also crucified... the best sportsman and man in the world. He will endure.”

 

[Fiero425]

Wouldn't be a GS if there wasn't a brawl in the stands now, right? Ah, if we could only go back to the good old days, where people applauded politely for winners, and players exchanged a handshake rather than something that looked like an arm wrestle after the match

But that would be asking for too much, huh?

Brawl? I'd never point fingers at any other major musing about violence! It's a shame a stray bullet came flying into Forest Hills exacerbated their move to Flushing Meadows! Then of course there was the unfortunate tourist m#rd@r in the Subway off the facility decades ago! I'm surprised The USO hasn't taken a bigger hit as one of the worst events run out there! The scheduling of matches was criminal at times! The stories I could tell you going back to the 70's!

 

[Jelenafan]

Brawl? I'd never point fingers at any other major musing about violence! It's a shame a stray bullet came flying into Forest Hills exacerbated their move to Flushing Meadows! Then of course there was the unfortunate tourist m#rd@r in the Subway off the facility decades ago! I'm surprised The USO hasn't taken a bigger hit as one of the worst events run out there! The scheduling of matches was criminal at times! The stories I could tell you going back to the 70's!

Don’t forget the shoddy condition of the grass!

 

[El Dude]

Really, who cares? People have a range of political beliefs, and there's not one singular narrative that we must all abide by - unless, of course, you buy the narrative of the mainstream.

I mean, shouldn't the people protesting this also protest the American flag? The US has invaded far more countries than Russia, and killed far more people (at least post-Stalin).

 

[Moxie]

Really, who cares? People have a range of political beliefs, and there's not one singular narrative that we must all abide by - unless, of course, you buy the narrative of the mainstream.

I mean, shouldn't the people protesting this also protest the American flag? The US has invaded far more countries than Russia, and killed far more people (at least post-Stalin).

Whether you like it or not, this is not about geopolitics, in general. It's specific. Tennis has taken a stand on the war in Ukraine. They have banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the AO (and on many websites,) and those countries' players from Wimbledon. I've already said I don't agree with a lot of these choices, but who cares what I think? Point is, that Novak's father had the choice to pass those protesters by, or join them. It can't have escaped his notice that it's an unpopular opinion, in the tennis world, and he could have done his son a favor by staying agnostic and walking right on by. His decision was a PR snafu for Novak, whether you think that's fair, or not. Sure, who cares what Srdjan Djokovic thinks about Russia? But it didn't help his son's cause, in terms of general sympathies.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

My young Aussie WC Kubler and Hijikata are aiming to become the 14th all Australian team to win an Australian Mens doubles title in the Open Era.Their match will be played after the Womens final on Saturday ( which is today).

 

[El Dude]

Whether you like it or not, this is not about geopolitics, in general. It's specific. Tennis has taken a stand on the war in Ukraine. They have banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the AO (and on many websites,) and those countries' players from Wimbledon. I've already said I don't agree with a lot of these choices, but who cares what I think? Point is, that Novak's father had the choice to pass those protesters by, or join them. It can't have escaped his notice that it's an unpopular opinion, in the tennis world, and he could have done his son a favor by staying agnostic and walking right on by. His decision was a PR snafu for Novak, whether you think that's fair, or not. Sure, who cares what Srdjan Djokovic thinks about Russia? But it didn't help his son's cause, in terms of general sympathies.

Your point is taken and I can agree that Srdjan isn't doing Novak any favors as far as PR is concerned. I just dislike the double-standard that exists because of media bias and propaganda.

 

[Moxie]

My young Aussie WC Kubler and Hijikata are aiming to become the 14th all Australian team to win an Australian Mens doubles title in the Open Era.Their match will be played after the Womens final on Saturday ( which is today).

Bolded is for AP, or for all of us?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well there are still calls for Novak's father to stay at his hotel and watch the mens final so I guess we will see if that unfolds.

 

[Moxie]

Well there are still calls for Novak's father to stay at his hotel and watch the mens final so I guess we will see if that unfolds.

Honestly, he's in Australia, and his son is in the final. It seems to me that one "time-out" is enough, as long as he minds his Ps and Qs.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Honestly, he's in Australia, and his son is in the final. It seems to me that one "time-out" is enough, as long as he minds his Ps and Qs.

He has apologized, calls are coming from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia for one, who dosent believe he should be at the final, it has stirred up a lot of anger, not only in Melbourne, but also here in Sydney.

 

[Moxie]

Your point is taken and I can agree that Srdjan isn't doing Novak any favors as far as PR is concerned. I just dislike the double-standard that exists because of media bias and propaganda.

Honestly not hammering on you, but genuinely curious...your last sentence has a bit to unpack. What do you think the media bias is, in this case? What IS the propaganda? If you by mean "double-standard" that the US or other countries are not called out for sins, I think you stretch a point too thin, in terms of the AO 2023. If you mean, as I think someone pointed out on these forums at one time, why weren't US players sanctioned when, say, the US invaded Iraq? I'd say that's a fair question, and qualifies as a double-standard. But I'm not clear that exists due to "media bias and propaganda." It's much more complicated than that, and murky business. The world in general, and tennis in particular (for our purposes) has taken a stand against Russia/Putin on this war. Are you thinking that we should look at the Russian side of the story, or just that the Russian and Belarusian players in tennis are being unfairly singled out? On the latter, I would agree with you.

And to keep this at least nominally related to the thread, the AO seems to have been trying to keep the politics away from the tennis, to some extent. They were a bit open until a Russian flag was prominently displayed during the match of a Ukrainian player. That's a bit much. Between us, I think tennis and other sports are realizing how unwieldy it is when they decide to wade into politics. It seems straight-forward, until it isn't. And that all comes up fast. Like Rybakina winning Wimbledon last year.

 

[Moxie]

He has apologized, calls are coming from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia for one, who dosent believe he should be at the final, it has stirred up a lot of anger, not only in Melbourne, but also here in Sydney.

Wow, that's a lot of International intrigue. Tennis Australia must be wondering when it became an arm of the Foreign Service, huh?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wow, that's a lot of International intrigue. Tennis Australia must be wondering when it became an arm of the Foreign Service, huh?

To be fair, TA outlined before the AO started to the players, coaches, families, the protocols in place regarding Russian and Belarusian flags, still some fans brought them in, they have been dealt with, then Novak's father with Pro Russian fan on video mind you? TA also warned Novak's father about the video, they didnt tell him he could not attend the SF, that was his choice, which I feel at the time was the correct choice.In the current climate of this war in Ukraine,it just takes one instance, like what happened at the AO, the other day, for people to come out with their strong opinions. I understand their point of view.

 

[Jelenafan]

Your point is taken and I can agree that Srdjan isn't doing Novak any favors as far as PR is concerned. I just dislike the double-standard that exists because of media bias and propaganda.

LOL. Double standards? Gasp, gambling in Casablanca. ; )

L

He has apologized, calls are coming from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia for one, who dosent believe he should be at the final, it has stirred up a lot of anger, not only in Melbourne, but also here in Sydney.

That is precisely what Novak’s dad knew his actions would provoke. He is the father of who will soon return to being the #1 player in the world, he knows that alot of Serbia’s European neighbors ( Poland, Slovenia, etc) tensions are running high on the Russian invasion. To say he used his visibility as Novak’s dad to stir the hornet’s nest isnt IMO a stretch.

Srjdan was genuinely unaware of the ramifications in visibly participating in that rally?? Give me a break, ain’t his first time in the rodeo.

 

[Moxie]

To be fair, TA outlined before the AO started to the players, coaches, families, the protocols in place regarding Russian and Belarusian flags, still some fans brought them in, they have been dealt with, then Novak's father with Pro Russian fan on video mind you? TA also warned Novak's father about the video, they didnt tell him he could not attend the SF, that was his choice, which I feel at the time was the correct choice.In the current climate of this war in Ukraine,it just takes one instance, like what happened at the AO, the other day, for people to come out with their strong opinions. I understand their point of view.

As I said to @El Dude above, I wonder if tennis isn't wishing they'd never waded into this in the first place. If they'd always treated tennis players as individual contractors, which they are, there might be no Russian protests outside at the AO. Sure, some Ukrainian flags on hats, and even Russian players signing for "peace" on the lens, which I think Rublev did, but no need for major political kerfuffles. I'm pretty sure that tennis opened a can of worms they wish they never had.