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Is the Monte Carlo Masters sending out inconsistent COVID-19 message with Novak Djokovic participation?

Novak Djokovic returns to the tour in Monte-Carlo after not being able to play due to his vaccination status.

Published

2 years ago

12/04/2022

James Spencer

(Novak Djokovic - @RolandGarros - Twitter)

The third Masters event of the year began on Sunday in Monte Carlo and Novak Djokovic has been allowed to play, albeit unvaccinated against COVID-19.

This makes the Serb the only player in the men’s top 100 of the ATP Tour to opt against the vaccine.

Tournaments such as the Australian Open, Indian Wells in California and the Miami Masters, have all barred the Serb from playing, in line with strict Australian and American COVID-19 vaccine requirements for travelling visitors.

Now the Monte Carlo Masters is only the second tournament, after the Dubai Open, to break rank on what is encouraged by the ATP and government figures, as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO), to be the adopted protocol.

This adds fuel to the argument that rich havens such as Monte Carlo and Dubai care more for profits and revenue, than public health.

Of course, Djokovic falls into the category of being a Monte Carlo resident. However, this is not enough to justify allowing athletes to compete at a premier sporting event unvaccinated in a global pandemic.

Considering the sacrifices normal people, the public in virtually all western time zones have had to make, allowing Djokovic to play is a low blow to fans who have lost loved ones or been extremely ill during the two-years in a COVID world.

Not only is the public health message that Monte Carlo is sending out inconsistent with a host of other ATP tournaments and countries, it also has practical issues.

Being unvaccinated, has been shown by various studies (including: Imperial College London) and health data, to make those three times more likely of catching the virus. (Source: Gov.UK)

This means that fans and other athletes around those unvaccinated, such as Djokovic, are at increased risk of Coronavirus being transmitted onto them.

Considering, some fans and players could be high-risk and have underlying health issues, such as diabetes, asthma, immune deficiency or cancer, anything that supresses their overall immunity.

The newest strain of COVID, Omicron, often keeps those that test positive, bed ridden for days with a fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches, in a more virulent version of the flu.

This would suggest that the Monte Carlo Masters have not taken public health warnings or Coronavirus seriously, particularly without having a mandate to be vaccinated to play at the event, and for watching spectators.

Neither would it be right for spectators to have to be vaccinated but not the players, as is the case with the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) in the United Kingdom. (UK)

The world number one is preparing to face Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 32, having received a bye from the previous round, along with the other top eight seeds.

Considering past patterns in regards to Djokovic’s behaviour and attitudes towards Coronavirus, the spotlight will be on him this week.

Other premier European tournaments such as the Madrid Masters, Italian Open, French Open and Wimbledon have all spoken previously about the need to be vaccinated.

With current UK and other countries experiencing high rates, this is still expected to be the case.

ATP Tour officials have not come under scrutiny for allowing Djokovic to continue to participate unvaccinated in a global pandemic, but perhaps its high time those questions begin to be asked.

Related Topics:COVID-19 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Novak Djokovic

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Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Sebastian Ofner in Barcelona to extend his winning streak

Published

1 day ago

17/04/2024

sampaolo

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Sebastian Ofner 6-4 7-5 at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell to extend his winning streak to seven consecutive matches after claiming his third title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters last week.

Tsitsipas earned an immediate break in the first game. Ofner broke straight back to draw level to 1-1. Tsitsipas earned his second break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead and served out the first set 6-4 with a hold at 15.

Tsitsipas broke in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Ofner won three consecutive games with two breaks of serve to take a 5-3 lead. Tsitsipas came back by winning four consecutive games with two breaks of serve to seal the second set 7-5.

Tsitsipas has a record of 17 wins to 5 defeats in Barcelona. The Greek player reached three finals at this tournament in 2018, 2021 and 2023.

“I feel pretty good, but it is still early in the tournament. The conditions here are very different to Monte-Carlo and I felt it today when I was playing. My job is to adapt and to ensure I can bring my A game again in Barcelona this week. Today was a great test to see where I stand. I am hoping to keep on improving and getting good wins like this under my belt”, said Tsitsipas.

Tsitssipas set up a third round match against Roberto Carballes Baena, who beat Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Musetti saved three break points in the first game of the opening set. The Italian player earned two break points with a backhand down the line. Musetti saved two break points in the seventh game. Both players went on serve un the 12^th game when Carballes Baena saved a set point. Carballes Baena went up a 5-1 lead with two mini-breaks in the tie-break. Musetti won three consecutive points to reduce to 4-5. Carballes Baena won the final two points to take the tie-break 7-4.

Carballes Baena converted his fourth break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Musetti broke back in the fifth game. Carballes Baena saved a break point in the sixth game. The Spanish player sealed the win with a break on his second match.

Last week’s Monte-Carlo finalist Casper Ruud beat Alexandre Muller 6-3 6-4 to claim his 25^th tour-level win of the season. Ruud has drawn level with Jannik Sinner for the most wins in 2024 on the ATP Tour.

Ruud set up a third round match against Jordan Thompson, who beat Jaume Munar 6-4 2-4 6-4. Roberto Bautista Agut beat Andrea Vavassori 4-6 6-4 6-1 to claim his milestone 400th match win on the ATP Tour. Bautista Agut set up a third round match against Cameron Norrie.

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Roberto Bautista Agut wins his milestone 400th match on the ATP Tour

Published

1 day ago

17/04/2024

sampaolo

Roberto Bautista Agut came back from one set down to beat Australian Open doubles finalist Andrea Vavassori 4-6 6-3 6-1 after 2 hours and 1 minute at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

Vavassori earned an early break in the first game. The Italian player earned three break points in the seventh game, but Bautista Agut saved them. The Spanish player broke straight back in the eighth game. Vavassori broke again in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and saved two break points before closing out the first set 6-4 on his second set point.

Both players went on serve in the first four games of the second set. Vavassori earned a break point in the fifth game, but he did not convert it. Bautista Agut broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and did not face any break points to win the second set 6-3.

Bautista Agut broke three times to cruise through to a 6-1.

Bautista Agut reached the 400^th milestone win on the ATP Tour. The Spanish player has become the 13^th active player with at least 400 ATP Tour wins. He achieved 20 wins against members of the top 10, ten wins against top 5 players and four against world number 1s. Bautista Agut is one of the nine players, who have beaten Novak Djokovic as World number 1 more than twice.

“For me it’s just a number. The important thing is that I have done great work over these years, that I have a very consistent career, a career that I can feel proud of “, said Bautista Agut.

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Martina Trevisan beats Naomi Osaka to reach the second round in Rouen

Published

1 day ago

17/04/2024

sampaolo

Martina Trevisan upset former world number 1 Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-2 in the opening round of the Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole.

Osaka has played her first clay-court match since Roland Garros 2022, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. The Japanese player has not won a match on clay since beating Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the Madrid Mutua Open in 2022. She helped Japan beat Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Trevisan reached the quarter final in 2020 and the semifinal in 2022 at Roland Garros. The former world number 18 won her only title in Rabat in 2022. She reached the quarter finals of the Zaragoza ITF 100 tournament.

Both players traded breaks in the first two games. Osaka earned two break points at 3-2 and three more chances at 4-3, but she was not able to convert them. Trevisan broke serve in the ninth game following a series of forehand errors.

Trevisan broke twice in the third and seventh games and served out the win on her first match point.

Sixteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva beat Elina Avanesyan 7-5 6-4 in 1 hour and 41 minutes to reach her second quarter final of 2024.

Andreeva went up a break in the seventh game, but Avanesyan pulled back on serve to draw level to 4-4. Andreeva broke for the second time in the 11^th game to win the second set 7-5. Andreeva broke in the first game to open up a 2-0 lead. Avanesyan converted her third break-back point in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Andreeva broke serve at love in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Avanesyan broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Andreeva broke for the third time in the ninth game and served out the win on her second match point after saving two break points.