In a shabby state

It's high time, the world of tennis needs total integration. The way things have panned out since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, some issue or the other has been cropping out.

It's just that the way superstars have held centre-stage, a lot of us have been able to forget the ugliness. The world at large will agree the pandemic has taught us many things in life. Most important, to respect humanity and be humble.

Watching two of the most articulate champions of tennis at The Championships in Wimbledon — Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal — one had to hear from them. There is humility and humbleness in their approach. Above all, they have respect for people and care for each other.

To be sure, what unfolded in Wimbledon was scintillating. It's a shame Nadal had to withdraw due to an abdominal tear injury. And it's also a shame Russian and Ukrainian players were banned from The Championships. If Wimbledon was being harsh, the two big professional bodies, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and the WTA (Women's Tour Association) did not distinguish themselves by doing anything great for the players.

By stripping the biggest Grand Slam in the calendar of ranking points, what the ATP and WTA did was ugly. There were better ways in which the situation could have been handled. Ideally, after winning the men's and women's singles titles, Djokovic and Elena Rybakina should have zoomed up in the rankings. Instead, what we see is some illogical changes in the rankings.

Tennis fans are well aware the whole narrative has changed. As much as Rafael Nadal will be the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), the way Djokovic has fought is commendable. Any other player would have been distraught at the way Australia handled his visa issue and deported him a day before the Australian Open began.

Djokovic and his coaching staff's key member, Goran Ivanisevic, spoke at length about how tough it was to handle issues, mentally. Djokovic has been serene and solid. He kept quiet for most of the period, not being vocal like his opponent Nick Kyrgios in the final.

After losing to Nadal at the French Open, Djokovic was down. He did not lose hope. His approach in Wimbledon was that of a consummate professional, taking it match by match. And when he had to choke his opponent in the final, he did it with slickness, not looking ugly.

With Grand Slam Title No 21 in his kitty, the entire debate now is about who will eventually become the all-time great. That is, numerically. Tennis fans are a passionate lot. They are driven not just by numbers but by their own liking and who they idolise. The debate on the Fab Three — Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer — will not end for a long time.

It's just like who has been India's greatest cricketer or who is the most revered champion in Formula One. If Djokovic is facing hurdles, they are his own creation. By not taking the vaccine, he is exposing himself not just to the virus but immense criticism.

He does not admit he is an anti-vaxxer. Sadly, there are many who are against the vaccine which, surprisingly, includes even doctors of the NHS (National Health Scheme) in Britain. It is weird to see doctors on social media being critical of the vaccine, knowing very well how the jabs have saved millions of lives.

Today, if the world has been able to open up and the skies are filled with more flights as seen on the flight radar, it is because of the magic called vaccine. India has shown the way in the vaccination programme, no doubting that. For a large size of the population, which is in billions, to be vaccinated is a big deal.

Back to Djokovic, if he has not taken the vaccine till now, he is never going to take it. Reasons for his refusal are personal but if he is open to daily scrutiny at a tournament, as in undergoing routine RT PCR test, he has no qualms. For that matter, even players who have taken the vaccine jabs are still tested daily.

The world of sport saw how Tokyo and Beijing conducted the summer and winter Olympics with precision. Djokovic's race to overtake Nadal as the man with the largest number of Grand Slam titles will keep fans engrossed.

As of today, the United States of America is very clear they will not allow people into their country unless they have taken the jabs. There is a plethora of vaccines available as options for the public. The US Open is right in sticking to its stand that it will not allow players who are not vaccinated. Definitely, the Joe Biden government deserves to be praised for it. It's not a question of one man's choice but how society at large needs to be responsible.

Yes, Djokovic is a champion. However, he is not doing the right thing by refusing the vaccine. Whether it is due to religious compulsions or he is scared of letting anything into his body is not known. Unless the USA makes exemptions for him, which seems remote at the point of time, Djokovic can forget the US Open.

Does he get to overtake or equal Nadal next year at the Australian Open? Ideally, once the Serb was deported, a three-year ban kicks in. However, as there has been a change at the helm of the political leadership Down Under, even as Britain totters on the brink, efforts will be on to allow Djokovic into Melbourne in 2023.

This is where the owners of the four Grand Slams, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and WTA need to come together and plan. You cannot be sitting on high horses and not exchange notes. The world of tennis wants to see the best athletes compete against each other.

We all know Nadal is in the twilight of his career. Despite his foot, rib and abdomen injuries, he does everything possible, medically, to bounce back. If Nadal can rely on modern medicine (allopathy) to stay fit and continue his campaign, Djokovic cannot be so adamant.

Shots were prescribed for tennis players even before by the WHO (World Health Organisation). That was before the pandemic began. Why cannot the tennis bodies come together and say vaccination is a must and regular testing will also go on?

The pandemic has not ended. It's very much like the stock market, volatile one day and calm the next day. We would love to see tennis rallies bloom like before, be it in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York. All the four Grand Slam owners and partners need to come together.

Do not punish athletes just because they are from a certain geographical area. Yes, make sure you make it mandatory that all players have to take the vaccines. By keeping it open, there is more confusion and more scope for interpretation. We all want to see riveting rivalries. We want to see Nadal at his best, despite his battles with injuries. He is certainly not giving up or retiring from tennis. At the same time, we need to see Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and others competing against each other.

Years 2021 and 2022 have shown a lot of ugliness in professional tennis. Each Grand Slam owner cannot think he is a baron. Yes, each Grand Slam is special. Wimbledon did not get diluted because there were no ranking points. Unless people come and sit on the table, which is now mostly online, issues cannot be thrashed out.

Professional tennis is becoming poorer by all the ugly incidents which are taking place. It is sad tennis players are being deprived of competing in the Grand Slams for one reason or the other.

Get off the ego trip, please. Organisers are supposed to bury differences and make the tennis world beautiful. Is that asking for too much?

Views expressed are personal