Ice-storms and heatwaves

As much as we live in a globalised world in terms of trade, economics and, increasingly culture- look at the polyglot collection of films nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars-, we still are a hemispheric world dramatically divided by nature.

In Australia, the Australian Open is being played on days of unbearable heat . Last Saturday, the tournament’s heat policy was implemented as the surface temperature on centre court reached 65 degrees Celsius. The ballboys and ball girls could not kneel and rest their hands on the court surface as required, but could only rest them on their sandshoes. All the stadia with closable roofs were sealed. Yesterday, the players woke to a pall of smoke blanketing the city which was generated by a bushfire 200 kilometres away. Tomorrow, the outside shade temperature in Melbourne is predicted to reach 45 degrees Celsius.

In the northern hemisphere countries, especially America, are beset by freakish ice storms and blizzards. Today’s AFC Divisional championship in America’s NFL championship, which decided one of the competitors in this year’s SuperBowl, saw its second half played in the rawest of environments.

Yet, weather and politics coincide. The furore about the behaviour of Donald Trump’s ICE enforcement officers has created a worldwide political storm. Constitutional and political rights are being set against Executive fiat. Whatever one’s views about illegal immigration, the paradox of the land that “lifted its lamp to the tired, poor and huddled masses yearning to breathe free” using unrestrained force with fatal consequences is galling. A country divided against itself cannot stand proudly. Former Presidents Clinton and Obama have written to the incumbent to reassess the implementation of his policy. No doubt Trump will dismiss them as deluded Democrats; however, their intervention is telling.

Thankfully, on this their national day Australians do not have to fear the same sense of political and personal enmity from their government. Nevertheless, Australians have every right to feel confused when the day evokes tri-partite protests between –‘pro-Australian’ groups, indigenous groups protesting the celebration of ‘Invasion Day’, and groups condemning Israel. Our national narrative is at best muddied and, at worst, splintered. Multiculturalism is clearly not universally seen as a post-war social miracle.

In Australia, the political heat from the Bondi massacre continues to scar and burn with equally unedifying results.  The recent two-day parliamentary sitting that offered our elected representatives a chance to demonstrate unity and purpose in response to Australia’s scourge of antisemitism did anything but. What emerged? First, the rushed enactment of legislation concerning gun ownership and hate speech, the contents of which have been lamentably unexplained. Secondly, for reasons still inexplicable to most, the passage of the legislation fractured, for the second time in less than a year, the Liberal-National coalition sending the conservative side of Australian politics into another bout of ideological soul-searching and possible leadership changes.  When national edification was needed, our politicians delivered partisan and shrill behaviour.  

There’s the rub. What people should do and how they behave is often poles apart. President Trump attracts and reviles support in equal measure due to his inexplicable insensitivity and coarseness. How could a man who sees himself as the world’s greatest peacemaker gratuitously insult British serviceman who fought in Afghanistan for “staying behind the frontlines.”? Narcissists rarely apologise, but Trump’s comments a day later celebrating the historic bond between American and British troops is as close as we will get.

Nature also behaves unilaterally and capriciously, with many arguing that it does more so because of human behaviour and inadvertence.   And what man engineers is always subject to human error.  In New Zealand , a landslide at one of its most popular tourist destinations claimed at least six lives at the foot of Mount Maunganui.

In Australia, a spate of shark attacks, one of which saw a 12 year old boy killed, have created understandable apprehension. In Spain, recent train accidents have seen a dreadful loss of life.

So, have there been “brief shining moments” at the Australian Open to remind us of human achievement and potential?

Well, there have certainly been memorable moments.  Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion, confirmed that her life is preoccupied with matters ethereal, if not supernatural, with her entrance to her first round match in what she described as a “jellyfish and butterfly” outfit. Unfortunately, a strained abdomen meant she could not float beyond the third round.

Ten-time champion, Novak Djokovic, has progressed to the quarter-finals, courtesy of another strained abdomen forcing the withdrawal of 16^th seed, Jakub Mensik. Djokovic has now won 103 matches at the Australian Open, edging past Federer’s record of 102. Novak’s  third round victory was his staggering 400^th Grand Slam singles victory.

The young pretenders to his throne of greatness, Alcaraz and Sinner, have survived until the second week, with Alcaraz looking far more comfortable in the heat than the Italian. Sinner may well have the tournament’s heat policy to thank for a chance to win a hat-trick of titles. In his third round match, he suffered agonising body cramps that only abated after the roof was closed and the players could take a mandatory ten minute break after the third set.

Tomorrow night, Alcaraz must battle hometown fervour as he plays Alex de Minaur in a much anticipated quarter-final. Sinner may have to play Djokovic in a third successive semi-final.

In the Women’s competition, the top seeds have progressed, but none have been entirely convincing. The final four are likely to be Sabalenka, Swiatek, Rybakina and Anisimova. Toss a coin! Maybe Gauff is a chance if she can improve her service toss!

And, of course, there are those who we now recognise as having run their race in Australia, some with Grand Slam success, most without. Stan Wawrinka, a triple Grand Slam champion, has played his final Australian Open, making a spirited run to the third round. Gael Monfils has bid farewell and we are unlikely to see Sorana Cirstea, Lorana Siegemund and Marin Cilic again. Danill Medvedev’s career is clearly waning- he will always be remembered as the man who denied Djokovic his Grand Slam with his US Open victory of 2021-and there is nothing special left about the injured but voluble Kyrgios and Kokkinakis. Venus Williams, newly married at 45, has surely bade farewell after her first-round loss.

The second week of a Grand Slam tournaments sees anticipation and excitement soar. The initial 128 players in each of the Singles’ draws are whittled down to a singular, undisputed primus inter pares. In Australia, these heightened emotions are played out in the blazing heat of its “wide brown land.”

Politics, tennis, natural environment and life itself: there are always many factors that create the context in which humans strive. The Australian Open , arguably more than any other tournament, is one where the ability to endure is the greatest pre-condition to excelling.  Regrettably, far too many, despite the abundant challenges we face,  do not see a life of service in politics as worth the struggle. This is not a state of play with which we should comfortably live. Unlike tennis, where we rightfully celebrate the exploits of an individual, the outcomes of a representative democracy only flourish with a positive commitment of the whole.