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The Australian Open matters to many Melburnians, but not more than the good of all Melburnians.
“Open” has taken on a particularly precious meaning these last 18 months. Sport has helped us to fill in the long, long lacunas, and we’re grateful for it. But the pandemic is not over, and as the state government continues to weigh protection against relief, the proclivities of a few athletes cannot be a consideration.
Djokovic won the men’s singles title at the Australian Open this year.Credit:AP
In reality, we are almost certainly talking about a very small number of players. Vaccination rates among tennis players have lagged until now. As recently as last week, it was estimated to be at around two-thirds. But this is expected to rise quickly once these most itinerant of athletes begin to return home for their short off-season and can have their jabs under their preferred medical supervision.
Of the rump of unvaccinated, those who object on moral, philosophical, religious or medical grounds are unlikely to change their minds. For them, this debate is moot. Evidently, these include Djokovic.
Nor are they likely to be tempted by two weeks of hotel quarantine. Last year, when all Australian Open entrants from overseas had to quarantine, all were equally disadvantaged. This year, a handful would find themselves two sets down before they began. At most, a few wannabe qualifiers with nothing to lose would submit to this.
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Preferably, tennis’s most famous recalcitrant would lead on this matter. Djokovic says his vaccination status is no one’s business, but as soon as the draw for the Open is nailed up, we will know it for a fact. Djokovic prides himself on his leadership of the players, but on this most fundamental issue to the whole cohort he pleads the fifth.
For vaccinated players, a further and potentially more explosive issue looms. If one was found to be a close contact of a COVID-positive person, would they have to quarantine immediately? The WTA email said this was “not 100 per cent resolved”.
Whether Hawke-Eye, Hawke’s eye or the beady eye of the state government, that is going to be one to watch.
Greg Baum is chief sports columnist and associate editor with The Age.