Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has provided insight into how a message of suggestions from Novak Djokovic regarding quarantine improvement leaked out to the general public and caused a firestorm for the now nine-time event champion.
While quarantining with several of the game’s top players in Adelaide, Djokovic moved to “clarify” his message to Tiley was for the benefit of other players rather than his own, with some suggestions involving moving quarantined players to private homes with tennis courts and getting them better meals.
Speaking on 3AW Sportsday, Tiley admitted Djokovic’s list of public missteps contribute to the public perception of him, but that the now-infamous message was a case of “unfair criticism”.
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“He says some things which sometimes turn some people off,” Tiley admitted.
“Behind the scenes, he sent me a WhatsApp message when they were in Adelaide doing their quarantine program and he had a bunch of suggestions to try and help the 72 athletes who were in the isolated quarantine here … half of which weren’t practical and wouldn’t be allowed and the other half which were possible.
“Then it turned out someone on his own team or someone in the ATP leaked that and then it looked like he sent a list of demands which was probably an unfair criticism of him because we were having an open dialogue.”
Speaking after he won his ninth Australian Open title and 18th major, Djokovic admitted he felt hurt by the criticisms of his character, but that he had developed a thick skin over the years.
Tiley said that Djokovic’s frame of mind during the 2021 event was the best it had ever been despite the controversies he found himself embroiled in during his time down under.
“Behind the scenes my conversations with him have always been very good. I must admit this year I found him the best he’s ever been even though it was a stressful time and he was taking a lot of knocks from people,” he said.
“I think in many ways he just tries to help others and sometimes just doesn’t land on the timing of when to do that. At the end of the day he’s a remarkable athlete.”