“They’d not make Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic play in these conditions,” says Australian Open qualifier

Tennis player Noah Rubin has blasted the Australian Open over the air quality controversy. Rubin lost in his qualifying match against Hiroki Moriya having to play whilst Melbourne was engulfed by smoke from nearby bushfires “If this was Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic playing in the finals, would we have done things differently? That’s always the question, and you’d have to think they would not be playing in these conditions,” Rubin told reporters. One line of reply to the player is that if they don’t wont to play in the conditions they can just pull out of the tournament. However, Rubin has shot down that suggestion. “We don’t have too many chances to make this kind of money and move up in the rankings.,” said Rubin. “Hypothetically speaking, if we lose in the first round, this is easily the most money we’ll make at any tournament, so to say that you’re gonna pull out or not play is a very tough ask. “If you qualify, you’re making really good money, you have momentum, good points and a lot of opportunities.That could easily allow for a great year of tennis. People say ‘just pull out’ but this is my livelihood, this is my life and my profession. “We can complain about it, but we’re not going to pull out – I don’t have the luxury of pulling out of a tournament like this. I’m a professional, but the fact that there’s ballboys and other people out there is kind of ridiculous. It’s sad that the Australian Open is forcing players to make this decision.” Source- Tennishead

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