Novak Djokovic has reportedly made a list of demands while in isolation ahead of the coronavirus-impacted Australian Open.
The world No.1 has sent the proposal to AO chief Craig Tiley after international players who have arrived in Melbourne recently were forced into a 14-day quarantine.
More than 70 players are currently in hotel rooms undertaking a hard lockdown with the tournament due to get underway on February 8.
To deal with the isolation and inability to practice, Djokovic has reached out to Tiley with a letter asking for special treatment.
See the list, reported by Spanish website Punto de Break, below:
- Fitness and training material in all rooms.
- Decent food for elite athletes, following players taking aim at the meals on offer.
- Reduce the days of isolation for players in hard isolation and carry out more tests to confirm they are negative.
- Permission to visit your coach or physical trainer, as long as both have passed the tests.
- Grant both the player and his coach to be on the same floor of the hotel.
- Move as many players as possible to private houses with a tennis court to facilitate training.
The demands come after Djokovic tested positive to COVID-19 earlier in the year in June after he organised the Adria Tour - a tournament held without any social distancing or COVID measures.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has since respinded to Djokovic’s list of demands.
“People are free to provide lists of demands. But the answer is no. And that was very clearly put. That was very clearly laid out beforehand,” he said.
“So the notion that there’s been any change, the notion that people weren’t briefed – I think that that argument really has no integrity whatsoever, and don’t just take my word for it.
“You’ve got other players who, I think on social media and in other forums, have made it clear that they were clear on the rules. And I probably can’t be any plainer than that.”
More than 1,200 players, coaches, staff members and officials are due in Melbourne for the 2021 tournament in three weeks’ time.
— Fernando Murciego (@fermurciego) January 17, 2021
The Australian Open is in enormous danger after a fifth coronavirus case linked to the tournament was reported.
The most recent case was recorded on a charter flight from Doha to Melbourne.