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Aug/22

14

Why won’t Federer Nadal Support Novak?

By Scoop Malinowski

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been mute silent about the issue of letting Novak Djokovic play the 2022 US Open. This week the CDC has determined there is no different between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated which should mean that Djokovic should be free to enter the USA and play the US Open.

Novak Djokovic has been cheated by the tennis establishment (or deep state) of being able to play AO, Miami, Indian Wells. Montreal and Cincinnati, which equates to him being denied the chance to compete for 6000 ATP points. If he misses the US Open, it will be 2000 more points.

During this entire injustice against Djokovic, because he declines to take a drug shot injection that does not work, Federer and Nadal never spoke a word of support for Novak’s right to play and they are still silent.

It’s a stark contrast to the Muhammad Ali three-year exile from boxing in the late 60s because the world heavyweight champion of boxing refused to participate in and spoke out against the Vietnam War. Ali lost three prime years of his career because of his political stance and convictions – and was not able to fight or defend his title or even use a passport to travel outside of America from 1967-1970.

One of Ali’s biggest rivals Joe Frazier, supported “The Greatest’s” right to fight and even loaned him money during hard times of his forced hiatus from competing. Joe Frazier showed tremendous class and compassion for Ali in his time of need.

Joe Frazier.

But Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are nowhere to be found to help and support Djokovic when his career needs them most. If only Federer and Nadal had a fraction of the class, honor, integrity and sportsmanship of Joe Frazier, their words would have the power to make a difference. And maybe Djokovic could be playing all the tournaments he deserves to play. Which would be giving the sport and history the very best product of entertainment and competition.

Shame on Federer and Nadal for abandoning and turning their back on their Laver Cup teammate Novak Djokovic – and cheating the sport out of seeing the world’s greatest tennis player perform while he’s still at his peak.

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3 comments

  • George · August 14, 2022 at 1:19 pm

    Scoop, they are not going to support him for a number of reasons.

    Tennis is an individual sport and the players’ common mindset is to objectivize the opponent: they train to disassociate themselves from opponent’s pains and struggles and extinguish all empathy while on the court: too many players use that to gain an advantage. It’s no wonder it spills into real life. I think boxing, although also an individual sport, is different in a way that it’s too up close and personal and you do aim to physically hurt the opponent.

    Many don’t think taking a jab is a big deal and Novak’s stance against it is his personal choice and cross to bear. I remember Rafa saying something like that during AO. He didn’t support Novak when he was in jail, he is not going to support him now. If I remember correctly, Rafa was openly delighted that Novak was out. Fed is too busy running his business empire and trying to prep for his last comeback hurrah. He’s not just pro tennis establishment. He is the establishment: he’s not going to jeopardize his business by taking a side of someone who isn’t vaccinated on principle.

    Lastly, it’s not even clear what such support can accomplish, if anything: they aren’t going to change the federal rules because of Novak or grant him a personal exemption because of what USO, USTA, Rafa or Fed might say.

    Personally, I’m not against COVID vaccinations, but I think Novak is right that it’s everyone’s personal choice and forcing people to do it and demonizing those who don’t should not be done. Yet it is done, and now he’s going to pass on USO because of it. Like I said, I respect his choice, but can’t help thinking that by taking this principled position, he’s in a way letting down his tennis fans. His fans want to see his tennis first and foremost. Instead, he is fighting a war he cannot win. This is not flexible, this is not Sun Tzu. Wouldn’t it be better to take a shot while publicly voicing his objections at every opportunity? I think it’d be a more effective way to fight the system than sitting on the sidelines unable to play.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 14, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    George, Canada Open tried to help Azarenka get an exemption to play this week but USTA is not making any effort at all to try to get Novak an exemption to play. The virus is all over now, the CDC said there is no difference between vax and non vax people. It’s over. USTA should be making major efforts to get Djokovic to be allowed to enter usa and play. But nothing. The establishment media all ganged up and bullied australia to send Novak home when he was invited to play and followed all rules. Fed and Nadal have done or said nothing to support Novak to play US Open, very disappointing and poor sportsmanship on their part.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 14, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    George…

    Azarenka couldn’t participate in the Toronto Open due to bureaucratic red tape/ visa issues.

    Tennis Canada “did everything they could to help.”

    Will the USTA & USOpen be helping Novak Djokovic?

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