Chris Rattue: The Novak Djokovic saga has become a grotesque witch hunt

OPINION:

Novak Djokovic wears down the best of opponents, but the Australian government returns blows with all the tireless Rafael Nadal as the vaccination debacle drags on.

In my opinion, Djokovic – the
initial underdog – is well ahead and emerging as an unlikely hero, Australia looking like clumsy fools.

To that you can add the bullying and sore loser violations as this country continues to look for new ways to expel the greatest tennis player in history before the start of the Australian Open.

Djokovic’s major “crime” is his anti-vax bent; but a highly visible superstar can easily be managed and he has never posed any real danger to Australia.

It has become a farcical witch hunt and a ridiculous distraction in a country where Covid walks around with abandon.

The way Australia has seemingly turned on Djokovic, using him as a sort of scapegoat and distraction for the pandemic disaster, is sickening.

The simple timeline is as follows:

1) Djokovic thought he could make the Australian Open and with good reason;
2) Australia – with competing state and federal systems – seemed to back down after he arrived and threw him into custody.
2) Djokovic won an important victory on the court with the serious support of a judge.
3) Australia refused to accept the decision and let Djokovic try for a fourth straight title, opting to pursue it instead.

Djokovic’s entry into Australia is said to have caused ‘public outcry’, but that’s a modern-day understatement for the combined effects of mainstream media commentary and a bit of angry action on social media. .

In other words, a few pundits and a remarkably small percentage of bettors can quite easily shape government actions if politicians feel their popularity is at stake.

Yet, as the US election has undoubtedly proven, even professional pollsters are incapable of properly measuring what the public is thinking.

We should all be grateful that someone with the determination and the money is willing to challenge these kinds of arbitrary government actions. We actually owe Djokovic thanks for that.

Controversial Australian tennis player Nick Krygios stood out as a hero in this madness, an exception who tried to carry out rearguard action in the name of common sense.

‘At least treat Djokovic with respect’ has been Kyrgios’ stance, and he’s so right.

In many eyes, Djokovic has made mistakes over Covid, but he’s not the only one. Many of us have transgressed in one way or another, as strange rules attack our habits and freedoms.

There are many anti-vaxxers and vaxx-skeptics out there. My big issue with them is the strain Covid is putting on the medical world, but these people still have the absolute right to voice those opinions.

And in a long list of people who may have mishandled the baffling crisis, Djokovic wouldn’t even feature.

Novak Djokovic is not an evil force, not that you know right now.

So when Judge Anthony Kelly said “what more could this man have done” it was time for the Australian attacking pack to throw in the towel.

They could have done the decent, sensible thing, said it was a confusing situation, and let a great sportsman, one who did so much for his tennis tournament, continue to entertain the masses in troubled times.

Instead, there are now predictions that sound like exhortations that Djokovic will be booed if he plays – a sure sign that part of Australia has lost their minds.

It’s a free world, and you pay your money and you can boo all you want if that’s what floats your boat.

But on a purely sporting level, the credibility of the Australian Open is weakened. An authoritarian government can seriously affect the outcome of a Grand Slam tournament.

Irony of ironies, only a good performance from Djokovic can really save him. Otherwise, this Aussie Open will be a Grand Sham.