Exuding sunshine, blue skies and heat whereas the opposite three grand slam nations freeze within the northern hemisphere’s midwinter, the Open has a event director who solely stops in need of providing a free Lamborghini with each accreditation as he does his utmost to maintain the gamers smiling.
Up within the stands, the punters are all in summer season trip temper and the beer flows freely.
The Aussies are a nation of sports activities nuts and Melbourne is the centre of all of it. The world-famous MCG, the center of Aussie cricket, is subsequent door to the tennis website; AAMI Park (residence to the soccer golf equipment Melbourne Victory, Western United and Melbourne Metropolis and the rugby league facet Melbourne Storm) is throughout the highway and the Docklands Stadium, simply a few tram rides away, is the house of 5 Aussie Guidelines Soccer golf equipment and a cricket T20 facet. And that’s solely a aromatic nosegay of sporting hubs within the metropolis.
It’s truthful to say that Melburnians know their sport. Sure, they enjoyment of making their emotions recognized to the gamers however, for essentially the most half, they’re a good, if noisy, bunch.
However this yr the Comfortable Slam has been soured considerably – and it’s not solely because of the variety of tinnies the followers have downed in the midst of the day. The host broadcaster has not lined itself in glory.
Final weekend, Channel 9 angered Novak Djokovic to the purpose that he refused to do any on-court interviews till they apologised. The sports activities anchor, Tony Jones, had began his bulletin by singing on the Serbian followers: “Novak, he’s overrated. Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.” He did this on reside TV. And, remarkably, he’s nonetheless in a job though he did should make a grovelling mea culpa to each Djokovic and the Serbian followers.
That, although, was not the top of it. As soon as Ben Shelton had booked his place in his second main semi-final (he faces Jannik Sinner on Friday night time), he made his ideas about Channel 9 plain.
“One factor that I simply wish to say earlier than we’re executed: I’ve been a bit bit shocked this week with how gamers have been handled by the broadcasters,” he mentioned.
“I don’t assume the man who mocked Novak – I don’t assume that was a single occasion. I’ve observed it with completely different individuals. I observed it with Learner Tien … when he beat Medvedev. His post-match interview, I believed it was type of embarrassing and disrespectful.
“There are some feedback which were made to me in post-match interviews by a few completely different guys, whether or not it was, ‘Hey, Monfils is sufficiently old to be your dad. Possibly he’s your dad’. Or right now on the courtroom, ‘Hey, Ben, how does it really feel that regardless of who you play in your subsequent match, nobody goes to be cheering for you?’ It could be true, however I simply don’t assume the remark is respectful from a man I’ve by no means met earlier than in my life.
“I really feel like broadcasters ought to be serving to us develop our sport and assist these athletes who simply gained matches on the largest stage get pleasure from certainly one of their greatest moments.
“I really feel like there’s simply been plenty of negativity. I believe that’s one thing that should change.”
The on-court interview could be a robust gig. It’s not the time for hard-hitting questions – that may come later within the press convention – however something too bland makes the interviewer sound like an fool and the participant really feel like a patronised fool. Some, like Jim Courier, get it spot on (more often than not) however many don’t. And those who don’t appear to be working on the Australian Open this yr. A lot for the Comfortable Slam.
However what the now notorious Mr Jones might not have realised is that Djokovic – like many gamers – performs higher when he has an axe to grind.
His efficiency to beat Carlos Alcaraz in 4, gruelling units on Tuesday night time was fairly merely beautiful. Hobbled by what seemed to be a hamstring damage from late within the first set, he managed to face up to every little thing Alcaraz may throw at him in lung-bursting rallies and push his 37-year-old physique into its fiftieth grand slam semi-final. Most gamers can solely dream of enjoying in 50 slams a lot much less being within the closing 4 of them. The extra obstacles destiny places in his path, the harder Djokovic turns into.
“Expertise helps in the right way to face adversity and draw the correct and obligatory energy and power that you just feed off with the intention to win a tennis match, to win a event,” he mentioned.
“I don’t recall the final slam the place there wasn’t some kind of drama, to be trustworthy, however I suppose that’s a part of it.”
That mentioned, he was frightened about his damage after the match. He didn’t follow on both Wednesday or Thursday and, on the time of writing, nobody was any the wiser about his situation or even when he could be match sufficient to start out towards Sascha Zverev on Friday afternoon. But when he’s, put together for battle. Two years in the past, he gained his tenth title carrying a hamstring tear that he picked up within the first spherical. He is aware of the right way to beat the percentages.
This has not been the Comfortable Slam for Djokovic and his sore leg – neither has it been for a number of gamers – however for the person chasing down his twenty fifth grand slam title, Melbourne Park is his happiest looking floor.
