The Australian Open, tennis' first Grand Slam, is underway in Melbourne

 

The Australian Open, tennis' first Grand Slam, is underway in Melbourne

Transcript¹

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Tom Maddocks of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, about the atmosphere at the Australian Open without defending champion Novak Djokovic.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The Australian Open is underway in Melbourne, the first tennis Grand Slam event of this year, and the headlines have mostly focused on who will not be playing - Novak Djokovic. He's back in Serbia after the Australian government revoked² his visa due to his unvaccinated status, which leaves the court wide open for everybody else. From Melbourne, we're joined by Tom Maddocks of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC. Welcome to the program.

TOM MADDOCKS: Hey, Steve. How are you going?

INSKEEP: I'm doing OK. Thank you very much. How much has this championship changed, this Open changed, because Djokovic won't be there?

MADDOCKS: Well, I think the tournament goes on. As you say, there's been such a distraction³ in the lead-up to this tournament that I think there's a sense on the ground that spectators just want to see some tennis now. I mean, of course, this has been a hugely divisive issue, and it's captured the opinions of the nation, gone from being a tennis story to one about politics. But despite there being restrictions⁴ on crowds this year at this year's tournament, like last year, I think there is a sense from spectators that they just want to see some tennis. And really, the opening few days are all about the locals, the Australians, and there are a number of Australians in action, so perhaps that's provided a bit of a distraction from Djokovic's absence.

INSKEEP: What are the restrictions on crowds? How does Australia put on an event like this?

MADDOCKS: So the Victorian government recently capped the capacity at 50% in response to a recent surge in cases of the omicron variant⁵ of COVID-19. So just to give you a perspective, on Day 1, we had a tick over 25,000 people through the gates at Melbourne Park. On Day 2, a little bit more. So there are still people coming through the gates, and there is still a buzz, and they do call this the Happy Slam for a reason.

INSKEEP: OK, that's great. I'm just thinking about now the playing that is beginning and thinking, as a layman⁶, about a very basic thing. There are brackets. You match up tennis players against other tennis players, and they play against each other and move on forward. The unexpected disappearance⁷ of Djokovic means that every single matchup is slightly different or very different than it would otherwise have been. What is the - what do things look like as they get started?

MADDOCKS: Well, it was a really bizarre order of play that was - that became, I guess. So it was only released late on Sunday, so all the other players had no idea what time they were playing, just hours from when they were meant to take to the court because of Djokovic. Djokovic was originally included. Then, of course, the court case was handed down; he was deported⁸. So that meant a lucky loser - a so-called lucky loser came in his place. But in terms of the tournament itself, there are a few rising stars in men's tennis who are really now in contention⁹. Rafa Nadal has made it to Melbourne despite recently contracting COVID-19.

But the favorite now is Daniil Medvedev from Russia, the world No. 2, who, of course, beat Djokovic at the U.S. Open in September. And I think one of the great little storylines that's being set up now is that Nick Kyrgios, Australia's Nick Kyrgios, the great big personality and entertainer he is, even though he can be divisive - he's very much loved - he's playing Daniil Medvedev on Thursday after advancing to the second round today, winning his game. So that's...

INSKEEP: And in...

MADDOCKS: ...Going to be a really interesting matchup.

INSKEEP: And in just 10 seconds, which doesn't do it justice, Australia's Ashleigh Barty is the No. 1 in the world on the women's side.

MADDOCKS: And she's setting up this mouthwatering clash in the fourth round with none other than Naomi Osaka, the defending champion who spent a lot of time away from tennis last year because of mental health problems. So that's an intriguing¹⁰ clash if they keep progressing to the fourth round.

INSKEEP: Tom Maddocks of the Australian Broadcasting Company in Melbourne. Thanks. Enjoy the tournament.

MADDOCKS: Cheers, Steve. Thank you.

(SOUNDBITE OF PALMASUR'S "PARQUE DE BUGAMBILIAS")

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1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

3 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

6 layman   

n.俗人，门外汉，凡人

参考例句：

• These technical terms are difficult for the layman to understand.这些专门术语是外行人难以理解的。
• He is a layman in politics.他对政治是个门外汉。

7 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

8 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

10 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》