Major upsets need be on court not in courtroom

SO, you thought 2022 was guaranteed to be ‘even keeled’, think again: Covid conjecture and the global rise and fall of variants, have been replaced by vaccine fixation and fluctuating opinion, on whether or not, one man should have that essential shot in the arm.

The fallout from World No 1, Novak Djokovic’s divisive decision, not to do so, prior to defending his title at the Australian Open, for which Covid vaccinations are mandatory, has been seismic in both political and sporting arenas, eclipsing even President (Vladimir) Putin and Prince Andrew’s headline grabbing bad decision making.

Without elaborating on the multi layered nuances of this unfurling drama, which amount to inconsistencies by both local government and sporting bodies flashing red and green lights at the tournament’s main money spinning drawcard, like a stuttering robot, as he entered Australia, it all boils down to this: Do you want to watch a Major with or without its No 1 contender? I for one, want Djokovic there.

As an elite athlete, in a different stratosphere to most, who has won this Major nine times - bearing in mind all the other top seeds competing have never won it once, with the exception of Rafa Nadal, winning it once over a decade ago - then I believe you have earned that divine right of kings. You can then decide what to or what not to imbibe to maintain perfect working order of that finely tuned machine, of mind and body, so fundamental to your success. Moreover, if you are attempting a monumental physical feat to win a ground breaking 21 Singles titles, all the more reason to be granted leniency, or the proverbial keys to the city of Melbourne.

In as much as Nadal or No 3 seed, Alexander Zverev, may be praying, Djokovic is sent packing back to Serbia, leaving the winners circle gate ajar, I guarantee the satisfaction they derive from winning the event with the No 1 present will be infinitely more rewarding.

Current US Open champion Daniil Medvedev testified as much. If judicial sanity prevails and Djokovic does take to the court tomorrow, he will find himself in the top half of the draw, together with former No 1, Nadal, while the No 2 and 3 seeds Daniil Medvedev and Zverev are in the bottom half.

Nadal’s first uphill battle arrives in the fourth, when he confronts either last year’s surprise semi-finalist, Aslan Karatsev, or the dangerous 10th seed, Hubert Hurkacz.

Meanwhile, Medvedev has arguably the more difficult draw: He is likely to face enigmatic Australian favourite, Nick Kyrgios, in the second round, Hugo Humbert in the third, Diego Schwartzman in the fourth, with either Felix Auger Aliassime, or fellow countryman, Andrey Rublev in the Quarters a handful of crackers to say the least- before potentially confronting either Nadal or Djokovic.

The reigning ATP Finals champion, Zverev, could meet South African Lloyd Harris in the 3rd round and the German will be aware, the No 30 seed caused an upset last year beating Nadal in Washington, be it a half baked Nadal recovering from injury. Should Zverev survive Harris, he is then up against big serving American Reilly Opelka or 14th seed Denis Shapovalov fresh off his historic ATP Cup foray. Kevin Anderson will also be pitted against Opelka in his opening round.

Of the opening games to watch, the Brits feature heavily: Cameron Norrie takes on United States’, Sebastian Korda and current US Open champion, Emma Raducanu will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Raducanu, carrying expectations of a nation already suffering an humiliating Ashes defeat Down Under, will be comforted by the thought, Stephens, as a newly wed, might be more distracted, than previous opponent Elena Rybakina, who thrashed her in straight sets in Sydney.

But if Major upsets are on the cards, we want to see them played out on the level playing field of a hard court, not behind the closed doors of a stuffy courtroom, of a hard nosed judge.