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Anyone for Tennis - Djokovic situation discussion time ?

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Wryfox
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dsio dsio
Negativity towards him is relatively high, for a variety of reasons, after the verdict his supporters decided to riot and start attacking police, then smashed up a car belonging to one of the lawyers at the firm he hired for no real reason. So that’s not really making him more endearing either.

Um, but the verdict was in his favor, wasn't it....???
 
STANDY
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Wryfox Wryfox
Um, but the verdict was in his favor, wasn't it....???

Verdict was only for how he was processed by border officials.

This didn’t take into account he’s
647CFBB5-D264-458D-A9AC-06A32F7050E4.gif
story of having Covid in December (my opinion) especially when in Belgrade you have to isolate for 14 days and wear a mask if positive but he was seen in his twitter feed with groups of people at functions.

At least we got out of him he’s vax status his hidden for so long….
 
dsio
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STANDY STANDY
Verdict was only for how he was processed by border officials.

This didn’t take into account he’s
647CFBB5-D264-458D-A9AC-06A32F7050E4.gif
story of having Covid in December (my opinion) especially when in Belgrade you have to isolate for 14 days and wear a mask if positive but he was seen in his twitter feed with groups of people at functions.

At least we got out of him he’s vax status his hidden for so long….
Yea the timing of the positive test was awfully convenient, given his godlike status back home he could have gotten a doctor to testify he had a positive pregnancy test if he’d wanted to
 
Larry S
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[
STANDY STANDY
Verdict was only for how he was processed by border officials.

This didn’t take into account he’s
647CFBB5-D264-458D-A9AC-06A32F7050E4.gif
story of having Covid in December (my opinion) especially when in Belgrade you have to isolate for 14 days and wear a mask if positive but he was seen in his twitter feed with groups of people at functions.

At least we got out of him he’s vax status his hidden for so long….
Ominous sign that western courts are not going to continue supporting anti Covid mandates. SCOTUS here making unhappy noises too about Federal mandates.
 
Trev
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I'd like to ask the Australia folks to weigh in...I just read an article here in US that stated that the public opinion in Australia is overwhelmingly negative towards Djokovic and want him to leave. Is this really true? Vaccine status or just don't like him? Curious.....

I ask because if he stays and the country doesn't want him there, the Open will be a real circus and terrible distraction to other players, won't it?
This seems accurate, based on what I've heard from friends and family so far. Overwhelmingly negative for sure.

Vaccine status or just don't like him?
Both! Seems like a dick.
 
gbesq
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I have no patience for this guy or for any other sports figure, celebrity, politician, etc. who thinks that their status somehow exempts them from requirements which apply to "ordinary" citizens. He may be God's gift to tennis - although I watched him lose in straight sets at the U.S. Open - but he still puts his pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us.
 
Evitzee
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Looks like Novak is going to get the classic Australian "Tall Poppy Syndrome" treatment good and hard, most of the comments here clearly show that.
Edited:
 
Skrv
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I am still not sure where he is coming from on this. This is a such important milestone for him in his tennis career and why take this risk to generate so much negativity before even playing a single match. Get the vaccine or stay at home with limited contact. Whole bunch of us through out the world have been doing this for 2 years now...
 
TimeODanaos
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*Different take alert*
Absolutely regardless of the merits either way of the whole vaccine business, or the entitled superstar stuff, a thought occurred to me. Djoko is, we can all see, a very important figure in a relatively small country. Post-tennis, he might even take up a formal role in his country's politics. In some parts of the Balkans - no disrespect, it's just history - democracy and the rule of law is not yet deeply entrenched. There is hope for them though (provided Putin stays out of it), and they are doing OK so far.
My point? When Novak(x) becomes president or whatever in Serbia, he will probably face a lot of temptations from the dark side. But I hope he will always remember that day when a member of the independent judiciary in a civilized democratic country was both willing and able to rule against the actions of federal officers, even when it was a very unpopular decision that gave government ministers a big headache.
In mature rule-of-law countries that's how we roll, and this could be a very important century for making sure that it continues to be so. He needs to think about that.
Edited:
 
Archer
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TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
*Different take alert*
Absolutely regardless of the merits either way of the whole vaccine business, or the entitled superstar stuff, a thought occurred to me. Djoko is, we can all see, a very important figure in a relatively small country. Post-tennis, he might even take up a formal role in his country's politics. In some parts of the Balkans - no disrespect, it's just history - democracy and the rule of law is not yet deeply entrenched. There is hope for them though (provided Putin stays out of it), and they are doing OK so far.
My point? When Novak(x) becomes president of Serbia, he will probably face a lot of temptations. But I hope he will still remember that day that a member of the judiciary in a civilized democratic country ruled against the actions of federal officers, even when it was a very unpopular decision that gave government ministers a big headache. In mature rule-of-law countries that's how we roll, and this could be a very important century for making sure that continues to be so. He needs to think about that.

Well, given the people he has been associated with in the past, we should likely hope that he retires to a nice spot and stays out of politics.
 
LesXL
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Archer Archer
Well, given the people he has been associated with in the past, we should likely hope that he retires to a nice spot and stays out of politics.
If clever, he should just enjoy life with all the millions he earned with his great career... and avoid the stress of politics. He will be less stressed, and the rest of the world too lol
 
dsio
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If clever, he should just enjoy life with all the millions he earned with his great career... and avoid the stress of politics. He will be less stressed, and the rest of the world too lol
I’d imagine he will continue to do just that, it’s pretty hard to run for president of Serbia when you’re actually living in Monaco to maximise your net worth, which apparently is around a quarter of a billion at this point instead of paying any taxes in your home country which holds the distinction of being one of the poorest in Europe.
 
Wryfox
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On a positive note...France's Sports Minister confirmed that Djokovic can play the French Open, whether he is vaccinated or not. So at least he has that, which is nice.
 
LesXL
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On a positive note...France's Sports Minister confirmed that Djokovic can play the French Open, whether he is vaccinated or not. So at least he has that, which is nice.
Well, let's see what Macron will have to say about that... He wants to piss off unvaccinated people!
 
Pianotuna
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He will never have the affection of tennis fans in the way Federer or Nadal even when he inevitably wins more Grand Slams, in much the same way that Serena won’t ever be remembered as fondly as Steffi. It has to do with how one handles themselves on the court. In the case of Djokovic his strategic use of medical timeouts when LOSING, specifically at the Slams with five set matches, has been written about extensively. He is a prodigious player but not admired by all.
In addition, some will recall riots at the AO between Serbian and Croatian supporters in a grassed common area with big screen while Djokovic was playing a Croat. It was alleged that the furore started when Serbs started chanting the names of the generals behind the atrocities in the Balkan conflicts (the ones who ordered women and children into school rooms then had soldiers throw grenades through windows). When this came to light Djokovic was asked by a journalist post match if he would disavow these sentiments … and most pointedly, he did not!
So, we know where stands on that score.

His timing of his second COVID experience would be, by any definition, convenient at best, dubious most likely, and fraudulent if an outright lie. As noted above, such is his status he could have a Serb doctor testify he was pregnant and some would accept such testimony.
IF his second COVID-positive IS genuine then his thoughtlessness or selfishness in attending events with children in the days immediately following his diagnosis are off the charts. However I’d table his attendance at these events as evidence his claim of second COVID is a sham.
My position remains as before. He can sod off. But if he does play, his opponents will be cheered on every point, his double faults cheered and any single thing he questions will be booed. If he tries his usual medical time out, he will cop a caning. He will be the least popular Open winner ever and if, in the unlikely event he loses, his victorious opponent will be cheered to the rafters.
 
lindo
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Antipathy to Djokovic in Australia is based partly on his arrogance, but more on an upswell of anger from the predominantly vaccinated population seeing hospital beds becoming overwhelmed by non-vaccinated Covid patients, who are perceived - as is Djokovic - as not giving a damn about anyone but themselves.
 
Vercingetorix
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How is Novak even going to compete? I expect protests and massive jeers from the crowds. Every serve he’s going to be booed. Can’t wait to see it.
 
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