DJOKOVIC HAS BEVER BEEN THIS BRUTAL AGAINST THE ATP: They treat us like animals in a cage!

In addressing the Serbian media in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic gave a series of unprecedented criticisms against the ATP organization and the conditions in the World Professional Tennis, encouraged with unbearable conditions in which he and Monfils played their match (and other participants of the tournament, on even greater heat) and the media "lynch" on his role in the "controversial" ATP Tennis Players' Advisory Council meeting.

Djokovic survived the 40 degrees hell, Monfils didn't! The Serb is going to the third round of Australian Open after a fiery duel! (PHOTO) (VIDEO)

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Exclusively for Telegraf from Melbourne, Vuk Brajovic 

- I would like that this isn't the case, but it is entirely clear now that our sport became an industry, business, more than a competition. To me, whose interests of playing tennis are first of all for sport, and which I play with passion, this can't be good. We are increasingly feeling as if we are just a part of the industry because new tournaments are being added all the time, new obligations and there are no indications that there will be less of them. Players are under terrible pressure, in constant obligations to play some tournaments, to defend points and the basic interests of players in such an "industry of sports" becomes secondary. 

- The most important is to sell tickets, to make money, to fulfill the requests of the television contracts - and what we think about it comes after everything else. In a way, they look at us as if we were animals in the cage. Of course, I don't want to sound ungrateful, and I am everything but that because I got the opportunity to have a life I have through tennis and to do the sport I love. But, I think that I have the right to tell the public that we need to talk about it should tennis be played in this weather conditions, to hear our opinion and to point out certain things that we think are unfair - Djokovic said, and he turns attention to some of the basic postulates of success and popularity of tennis today: 

Foto: Tanjug/AP

- At the end, we the players are the ones creating "the show" the crowd enjoys, and no one can make the money without us which is the primary goal of this setup. Those "rules" how tennis should be played definitely needs further discussion. But then again - we return to the beginning, with the conclusion that the players don't have enough influence and strength to articulate and to present their opinion for their voice to be heard - Novak warns.

- Of course, we did talk with the representatives of the ATM tour organization in the period when the parameters of the regulations on the influence of weather conditions on the match were defined. But, you have to understand that the rules under which ATP tournaments are held are different than those that are in force in Grand Slam competitions. Organizers of Grand Slams have the absolute right and freedom to make decisions without consulting a single player.

- For example, I was informed, like all other players, that a stopwatch will be introduced in the official draw of the Australian Open which will tick time between the points. That idea was almost implemented. And to ask the players what they thought about that, no... - the Serbian ace said in disappointment.

- So the organizers of Grand Slam tournament have the unlimited freedom and the right to make decisions without consulting us, I personally have a problem with that. If the players are those who create the interest behind these manifestations, they show quality everybody appreciates, then the value of the player's voice should be more recognized.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

On the comments that all interests of the organizers of Australian open, the players in Rod Laver Arena, the media and the crowd would be "met" if they closed the roof and regulated the temperature with air conditions, Djokovic agreed, but he mentions:

- If you take only our match, then it is entirely reasonable, but you have to take in consideration all other courts and players going through what we did in Rod Laver Arena. And then is it fair towards other players to close the roof only on our court? However, it happened before right here, in 2009, when I conceded the match to Roddick when the roof was closed at the request of players, in that case, Williams and Kuznetsova, after one and a half hours of play.

- I think that the protests of other players and the problem that would cause would turn out to be an even greater problem than anything positive that would come out of that by that decision, and I understand that. On the other, players who are at the top have certain privileged treatment in other segments of the tournament organization, because they earned those positions with their game and good results. Taking all of that into consideration, all of the players should go out to the court in these conditions, or no one. The matches could be postponed, moved. The tournament lasts for two weeks, some of the matches could be played tomorrow.

Foto: Guliver/Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Foto: Tanjug/AP

- We have the lights on all courts, matches could be played later. Even if all matches end in one or two in the morning, that is almost normal here, which is still a lesser problem. It happened before to postpone the matches for 3-4 hours, and the technology today should be used to make everything pleasant and regular, but, that wasn't the case this time.

Commenting on the fact that the WTA has just agreed that the final tournament of the 8 best female players and women's doubles for their tour will be played in Shenzhen for the next 10 years, for a $ 14 million prize pool (a total of 6 million more than the men's earnings in the Final Masters in In London, Djokovic, in addition to congratulating colleagues and remarking that China is an excellent choice because women's tennis is more popular and successful than men there, had a "reformatory" proposal for the ATP and on this issue:

Foto: Guliver/Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

- London, in the opinion of the absolute majority of players, if not all, was a remarkably useful for our sport. That is an environment where tennis is extremely appreciated, where it is well known and the support received there is invaluable. Besides that, I think that the Final Masters ATP tournament should "travel", to change the place where it is being held. This tournament is the most valuable "possession" ATP organization has, at the rank if Grand Slam. To host the best eight players and double teams in their environment is something many cities would want to have and I heard that the interest would be extraordinary.

- London is certainly good, safe choice, but I think that we will do much more on making our sport popular around the world like WTA did, and that is to "move" the Final Tournament, which should positively reflect on the mentioned incomes - Djokovic said.

A series of clearly presented critiques, independent opinions, reformation proposals and different views on the world tennis situation and relations between organizers and players might be even longer - if Novak was rested and if the time for contact with players was longer.

What was indicated through everything the Serbian tennis player and the president of the Players' Council told our reporters is certainly complementing the much shorter "press releases" and their interpretations by the world's media these days from Melbourne. If the high temperatures in Melbourne continue, and if some participant of the tournament has health problems, God forbid, that the situation will certainly escalate.

But, if that doesn't happen, and judging by the strength and the content of the arguments that Djokovic brought - it is unlikely that both sides will drop these subjects. No one should be able to deny it, and the hope is that the dialogue will be finally useful for what sport essentially makes one of the most interesting and the most popular human entertainment activities.

(Telegraf.co.uk)