For everyone – especially those not usually interested in tennis – who believe their anti-Novak Djokovic sentiments are exclusively because they think he has disdain for Australia, it is worth having a look back to when COVID was not the only thing that mattered.
If we dig slightly deeper, we might remember back two years ago to the bushfires. Novak donated $25,000 to the Bushfire Appeal, which initially seemed like a kind gesture.
However, a tour around the various social media comments sections revealed the attitude of Australian tennis fans and general public was generally that he had the audacity to not donate even more.
Being one of the only tennis players to donate to the cause was not enough not to avoid drawing the ire of the ever-reasonable mob.
One might go further and look at all the horrible things Novak has done. He has broken a few racquets, which seems to mean he is a bad person. Of course, footage of the much more civilised Roger Federer smashing racquets as a junior is hilarious, and one of his loveable quirks.
(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
On the other hand, Novak getting frustrated that the Rod Laver Arena crowd seem to hate him despite all his success, tends to be used as proof he lacks the class to be truly likeable. And let’s never forget when he tried to murder that lineswoman at the US Open, of course.
In 2009, after Novak withdrew from a match against Andy Roddick due to heatstroke, the permanently classy Federer explained that Novak had a habit of giving up. He later described his loss to Novak in a US Open semi-final as being down to a “lucky shot” Novak hit near the end.
I suppose whenever the Serbian ends up retiring, with the greatest record of all time by a distance, that will reflect his tendency to give up. Plenty of lucky shots throughout, as well.
Of course, none of this should come as any surprise. Tennis is about class. About politeness. About strawberries and cream. Federer and Nadal embody their much more classy upbringings, and their classical training.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Federer has style, and historically dominates Wimbledon – the only tournament that matters to many tennis fans. Nadal is accepted because he always knew his place. He never won Wimbledon or the Australian Open that many times, and never talks of banalities like wanting to be the greatest of all time.
The tennis collective in Australia are happy for the Spaniard to win on clay, because they don’t really watch Roland Garros, anyway. Simply put, he is welcome into the GOAT club, because it’s easy to pretend Federer is still the best if only Nadal is allowed in.
Tennis fandom cares not for fighters, only for neat, private-school, white-clothed individuals. A few years ago when Novak revealed his extremely tough upbringing in his native Serbia, I made the mistake of thinking this might draw him some kind of praise. It did no such thing.
The collective Australian tennis fandom prefers to ignore Novak’s achievements. They find it easier to focus on small moments, like when he ripped his shirt open. Remember that? He ripped his shirt open to celebrate a win. How classless, they all said. Maybe he should’ve tried jumping into the Yarra, I suppose.
But now, well, he has committed the cardinal sin. He has refused to reveal his vaccination status. ‘My body, my choice’ matters, but only until is doesn’t suit your argument. And as we know, other people’s medical history is now everyone’s business.
Despite all the strict protocols Novak would have had to undertake upon arrival, and despite Omicron having no respect for whether people are vaccinated or not, Novak trying to land in country he owned for the last 14 years in a tennis sense may not be accepted. His arrival was met with outrage, and his incarceration turned all the highly-educated and intelligent people of this country into hyenas.
Completely justified hyenas, of course. Thought you could just come and play your tennis, did you, Novak? Oh, no. Not in laid-back, chilled-out pro-immigration Australia. Everyone is welcome here. We’re a very welcoming people.
Anyway, that criminal history is very hard to ignore. Broken racquets, ripped shirts, rogue balls hit at lineswomen, only donating $25,000 to a good cause. He is not a trained seal like Federer and Nadal. The list goes on.
But ultimately, he did not comply with our rules. He did not comply with strawberries and cream. He did not comply with politely not winning as much as his always classier great rivals. Respect, it seems, is not earned in tennis, it is a gift bestowed upon only the most compliant and stylish among us.
Oh, and Novak sounds like Novax, which is hilarious.
Vlad
Guest
Frankly if I was him I would not even try to please you guys who hate….nobody’s perfect, he is not that bad, can’t please everyone.personally I love to see a great game, it is not a Mr universe context. The level of hate from Australia OMG !
Maryna Culbertson
Guest
Is he vaccinated? And if not, why isn't he a threat to his countrymen.
Margarita Ognjaovic
Guest
great to see an Australian article not written by Murdoch's shonky newspapers
Carlos Santos
Guest
Novak is not from a western country. Moreover, is country has (not long ago) been involved in war with the "western world". That same world owning the almighty Nike (owning, manufacturing is something else) which has never sponsored Novak. Petty facts concerning popularity, some would say...
Gee
Roar Rookie
He gets the respect he deserves. Great tennis player but not a very nice person.
boes
Roar Pro
Some people are likeable. Some aren't. Novak just isn't in my opinion. He's a try hard likeable guy. Amazing tennis player... If he stuck to playing tennis and saying little he would probably get more adulation that trying to manufacture it. And he shouldn't be allowed to come into the country. I could recount many tales of real hardship from the last 2 years from people I know that have followed every rule and protocol and missed significant life or death events. Nadal said it pretty succinctly. Well done on putting up the article. I just don't agree with any of it.
Jules
Roar Rookie
I'll happily get this :tennis: ball rolling by noting your dangerously misleading and scientifically inaccurate statement "Omicron having no respect for whether people are vaccinated or not" as something that the editors should take note of before putting you into print.
Son of Coco
Guest
And I'm not after your respect, chumpers. You're a liar, who thinks fictitious demonstrations of wealth are ways to assert some kind of moral superiority. What kind of flog are you?
Son of Coco
Guest
Hahahahaha. Look how riled up you are getting. Me thinks you hate being called out for your lies. And...even if in the remotest of chances you are fabulously wealthy, why would you think you are entitled for me to respect you? What a spectacular flog you are. If anyone did respect you, they lost it after that post Hahaha
Son of Coco
Guest
Other problems: 1. He lives far from the sea. 2. He has no boat.
Son of Coco
Guest
Proportional to estimated wealth (bearing in mind I'm not worth $500m) my donation was substantially larger.
Son of Coco
Guest
Yeah whatever... Where you fictionally claim to live is immaterial Fact is you live somewhere in Western Sydney and each time when challenged and cornered your default reaction is to lie and impress us with fake wealth and claims of living on exotic islands and boats. We all know this. You are a disgrace to humanity.p
Cale Hellyer
Guest
Yes but again, WHICH ones. And they were backed up
Davico
Roar Pro
THIS!
Davico
Roar Pro
I met him in a nightclub in Belgrade a few years ago and when he found out I was an aussie all wanted to talk about was the Australian Opens he had won and if I had watched them. The bloke has his head so far up his own clacker its almost comical!
Davico
Roar Pro
Did not know Goran was playing?!
Davico
Roar Pro
BS! At the end of the day the sole responsibility for meeting entry requirements of ANY country is on the person travelling. Go see an immigration lawyer and I will guarantee you that they will have a disclaimer saying they are giving you the best advise possible, but it is still your responsiblity. Your name on the visa, your name on the passport, your responsibility to meet the requirements of the Govt of the country you are travelling to.
Ace
Guest
If you choose to take migration advice from a tennis organisation then it's on you.
wrenne
Roar Rookie
I've been a Novak fan for many years but his attitude and behaviour since the beginning of the pandemic has finally worn me down. I tried to look past his covid tournament in 2020 but it really has gone downhill since then. You don't just get respect, you have to give it too. Why did he not come for the ATP in Sydney? Was it because there was too much time for local authorities to act? Did he expect that arriving so close to the AO no one would make a fuss? I don't know if the court will be able to determine if he just assumed he would be waived through or if there has been a messy system of intentionally vague ambiguity between his camp and TA? After all Novak is the one who is still trying (?) to organise more power to the players to keep tournament organisers in line. We've had enough of the wealthy, famous and connected not being subjected to the same rules as the rest of us. But he's taken that a step further by trying to play the system and getting called on it because he doesn't believe he needs to face any consequences.
Davico
Roar Pro
It should not be up to readers to prove factual errors in your piece. Writers are supposed to be able to back up their claims, which for many things in your article, there is no way you can. Its called fact checking, otherwise what you are righting is just propaganda.