Djokovic: 'Wildfires could cause problems for Australian Open'

vak Djokovic has voiced concerns about impact of devastating wildfires in Australia on tennis’ season-opening major, saying organizers may have to consider delaying tournament if conditions around Melbourne deteriorate.
Djokovic has won a record seven Australian Open men’s championships at Melbourne Park among his 16 Grand Slam singles titles and will be among favorites again when tournament is scheduled to start on Monday, Jan. 20.
But with wildfires raging across large parts of country, alrey leaving 23 people de and 1,500 homes destroyed, air quality has become an issue in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and capital, Canberra.

Also Re: Australia-New Zealand cricketers turn attention to wildfires

Also Re: US singer Pink pledges $500K to fight Australia wildfires​​​​​​​
Djokovic opened his season with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) win for Serbia over South Africa's Kevin Anderson at ATP Cup in Brisbane on Saturday night and said his own manment team h been liaising with Tennis Australia about impact of wildfires, particularly in Sydney — where ATP Cup group st is underway and where playoffs and final will be held next week — and in Melbourne.
Djokovic said it was reasonable to consider delaying start of tournament because of extreme conditions “but I think that's probably very, very last option for anything.
“I think y're going to try to do anything to t delay anything in terms of days and when it starts," he told a news conference. “But if it comes down to ... those conditions affecting health of players, I think we should definitely consider it.”
Djokovic said tennis ministrators were “obviously tracking situation every single day as it's evolving."
”I think y will, if it continues same way and if quality of air is affected in Melbourne or Sydney, I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to create some rules about it," he said. ”It's tough for m because scheduling ... has to be respected in terms of play and Australian Open starts at a certain time, so re's a lot of different things involved. But health concern is a health concern for me and for anybody.”

Also Re: Wildfires increase in intensity on NSW south coast

Also Re: Australia sending aid by sea to towns cut off by wildfires​​​​​​​
Djokovic said players’ council for men’s tour “would discuss it for sure” if conditions get worse, ding that players h in past dealt with poor air quality at some tournaments in China and elsewhere, “but this is something different.”
“So I really never h this kind of experience before,” he said. “I hope that it's going to dissipate, that this is something that is very temporary."
ATP Cup is also a concern in Sydney.
Anderson, a former . 5-ranked player who lost Wimbledon final to Djokovic in 2018 and is coming off a prolonged injury layoff, said players h previously discussed setting safety guidelines regarding air quality but limits h been decided.
“Obviously first and foremost it's been so s to see everything that's been going on ... just being here you realize just extent of what's going on,” he said. “Obviously, sort of distant second is us and ... our air quality and being able to perform.
“But obviously it is hazardous. I think that's one of concerns in some of Asian weeks that we play in and that's something that we have spoken about on council. At what point does it become unhealthy ... I mean hopefully it won't be an issue, but if it is I think definitely need to have that conversation about if it's dangerous to be out re.”

Also Re: Australia wildfires release ermous smoke plumes

Also Re: Some flee, ors restock before Australia's wildfires grow
Tennis players, or athletes and celebrities are among thousands of people alrey pledging money to help with bushfire recovery, with Australian Nick Kyrgios donating 200 Australian dollars for every ace he hits this month.
path of destruction widened in at least three states Saturday amid strong winds and high temperatures in what is alrey being described as worst bushfire season in Australian history.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison anunced 3,000 army reservists h been called up to battle escalating fires in support of thousands of firefighters alrey working on ground.
fire danger increased as temperatures rose Saturday to record levels across Australia, surpassing 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) in Canberra and reaching a record-high 48.9 C (120 F) in Penrith, in Sydney's western suburbs. Group games in ATP Cup were held nearby, at site of Sydney's 2000 Olympic venue, and players were struggling in conditions.
wildfires have alrey burned about 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land since September.
group st of 24-team ATP Cup is being std in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Brisbane, in Queensland state, for w is relatively clear of smoke after destructive wildfires late in 2019 but re are fires causing destruction to rth, south and west of Sydney.

Also Re: Raging wildfires trap 4,000 at Australian town’s waterfront