Australian Open: Fire fuels the differences between the big three

Djokovic, already in the third round, questions the tournament dispute, against the defense that is played by Federer and Nadal.

• Second round.
  

  Baptist, on a “dog face” day
  

• Rafael Nadal.
  

  A left-handed veteran on his way
  

There is a fire in tennis that does not go out, and it is not that of the terrifying Australian fires. It is that of the differences of Roger Federer Y Rafael Nadal with Novak Djokovic. If they were always in style and in recent political times (who should be in charge of the ATP and how the circuit should evolve), they now go through the unexpected combination of tennis and climate change.

These days, after a turbulent week at the Australian Open, Nadal and Federer were responsible for raising the morale of the tournament and, incidentally, making the Serbian indirectly clear that more care must be taken when speaking. The mallorqun will not be confronted with the question: “Djokovic talked about the possibility of postponing, suspending or transferring the tournament, while both you and Federer were much more cautious. Wouldn't it have been more desirable and better coordination between the three greats of tennis? “.

It was as if Nadal had been waiting for him to be given the opportunity to say what he would say next: “I don't have to have coordination with anyone. In the end, what I don't like is talking about things that I don't know. I don't try to speak as little as possible. I prefer to listen to the experts. I can't position myself in favor of suspending the tournament. Based on what? Based on smoke? These are topics that I, like Rafa, don't have any option to answer because I don't know. I have to be cautious for the simple reason that I don't know. ”

More clear, water. Half an hour earlier, Federer had been on the same line, although much more irritated than Spanish: “Go to the streets and ask people if they want this tournament to leave Melbourne or Australia.”

“I can no longer get rid of Greta”

To Federer, who is already in the third round, where to play with the Australian John millman, his executioner two years ago at the US Open, bothers him when the media insist on issues outside tennis, but the issue of fires is inevitable in the beginning of 2020 that will soon add up to the question of whether the nuclear accident of Fukushima does not generate fear for the Tokyo Olympics.

A year in which Greta Thunberg, present these days at the Davos Forum, he put him between a rock and a hard place and asked him to repudiate one of his sponsors, the Credit Suisse bank, for investing in projects that are harmful to the environment. Federer has been reacting intelligently to the challenge, but the Neue Zrcher Zeitung synthesized precisely what is happening to the Swiss in the final stretch of his career: “Federer was a man who until recently was beyond good and evil. That is already past. Roger can no longer get rid of Greta.”

Despite the redemptive rains, the atmosphere remains charged. The Melbourne City Council decided not to launch fireworks on Saturday 25, “Da de Australia”, and the organizers cross their fingers so that the wind does not turn east and return the smoke to the tournament, other problems cross over the next fortnight . This Wednesday, the wind was intense and disturbed the game. And Djokovic, who arrived at Tatsumo Ito, guest of the organization, mentioned the fires again.

The problems do not stop

There is also the tram strike, which on Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 will stop for four hours, precisely at the time the spectators use them to reach the Rod Laver Arena. And, if that wasn't enough already, there's also the controversy surrounding Margaret Court, that this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of his conquest of the Grand Slam – the four great titles in the same season – but that he did not deliver the trophy to the champion due to the rejection generated by his opinions on the LGBT collective.

Owner of a record 24 individual Grand Slam titles, Court said weeks ago that the female circuit “is full of lesbians” and that “the devil” is behind the acceptance of homosexual relationships. Federer saw, precisely, the demon when asked what he thought of the subject and opted for evasion. Craig tiley, director of the contest, said that they will “recognize” the sporting feats of Court, but not “celebrate” the person.

And Martina Navratilova, of intense activity on Twitter, cross the Australian champion, who said she was persecuted for spreading “what the Bible says.” “Do you talk about persecution when she is the one who calls the gays and transsexual children of the devil? Who is the persecuted really?” Navratilova, as in his few player, goes to attack.