Djokovic says demands for Australian Open players ‘misconstrued’

TIL Desk Sports/ World number one Novak Djokovic said his demands for tennis players in quarantine ahead of the Australian Open were “misconstrued”. In an open letter to the Australian public published from hotel quarantine in South Australia, Djokovic defended his “good intentions”.

It comes after the eight-time Australian Open champion was widely criticised after issuing a list of demands for players in quarantine to Australian Open chief Craig Tiley, including shorter quarantine periods and “moving as many players as possible” to houses with private tennis courts.

Djokovic said that his letter to Tiley was taken the wrong way. “My good intentions for my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misconstrued as being selfish, difficult and ungrateful,” he said. “This couldn’t be farther from the truth.”