Advertisement

'From Adelaide?': Stan Wawrinka mocks Novak Djokovic's demands

Stan Wawrinka (pictured left) celebrating by pointing to his head and World No.1 Novak Djokovic (pictured right) frustrated.
Stan Wawrinka (pictured left) mocked World No.1 Novak Djokovic (pictured right) after he reportedly asked for a list of demands for players in hard quarantine in Melbourne. (Getty Images)

World No.1 Novak Djokovic caused a stir with a reported list of demands to help out players in stricter quarantine conditions in Melbourne, but rival Stan Wawrinka wasn’t sold.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has categorically ruled out making changes to quarantine rules for Australian Open players, following a list of requests Djokovic.

'NOT HAPPY': Ash Barty caught in ugly Aus Open controversy

‘WHAT THE HELL’: Tomic's girlfriend in Aus Open quarantine reveal

The World No.1 tennis player reportedly sent Australian Open boss Craig Tiley a letter with six points he would like actioned for frustrated players who are in lockdown in Melbourne.

Among the reported demands, published by Spanish tennis website Punto de Break, Djokovic wants the days of isolation reduced, the ability for players to see their coach or trainer, and as many players as possible moved to private houses with a tennis court to facilitate training.

But Djokovic is one of the players serving his quarantine in Adelaide, which players have claimed is unfair because of the better conditions being afforded to the top players.

This prompted Wawrinka, who is quarantining in Melbourne, to take aim at Djokovic’s list.

Journalist Eric Salliot, in a tweet, questioned whether Djokovic’s reported letter was a way to prove the ability of the Professional Tennis Players Association’s (PTPA) to properly represent the players.

However, Wawrinka responded to the tweet with a laugh and pointed out Djokovic was in Adelaide with different quarantine conditions.

“From Adelaide? Hahahaha,” he wrote.

Wawrinka is most likely having a go at the preferential treatment being afforded to the top stars in Adelaide.

Naomi Osaka already caused a stir on social media after posting a photo with staff members training in Adelaide, which reportedly angered some quarantining in Melbourne.

Australian PM defends Aus Open tournament

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has jumped in to defend the handling of the Australian Open situation after officials were criticised for giving preference to tennis players over Australian citizens.

Some 72 players are in hard lockdown after a third chartered flight to the Australian Open returned a positive COVID-19 case.

A further 25 Australian Open players were forced into quarantine on arrival in the country on Sunday ahead of the season’s first tennis major.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Monday that another four coronavirus cases, including one player, were linked to the charter flights from overseas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison makes opening remarks during a convening of the Federation Reform Council at Old Parliament House.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended the handling of the Australian Open so far.(Photo by Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images)

The Prime Minister has scoffed at those suggestions after denying that tennis players are being given preferential treatment over citizens.

“No one is being prevented from coming home from overseas because of the Australian Open. That’s not happening,” the Prime Minister told 2GB radio on Monday.

“Their places are not being taken by tennis players, I can tell you that.”

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.