Jimmy Barnes in Melbourne hotel quarantine and doesn’t understand tennis stars’ complaints

Jimmy Barnes has questioned why privileged tennis stars felt the need to complain about their treatment in Australian quarantine hotels.

The music legend is shacked up in a hotel in Melbourne with his wife Jane Mahoney waiting out his mandatory 14 day self isolation period. 

And while the quarantine program has drawn the ire of several internationally acclaimed tennis players, the Australian rocker has ‘no idea’ why they’re complaining.

‘Here we are in Melbourne hotel isolation, waiting for Covid test results. I don’t know what those tennis players are complaining about,’ he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Barnes shared a picture of his hotel room and the meal he’d ordered to be delivered from one of his favourite restaurants, Vlados

Barnes shared a picture of his hotel room and the meal he’d ordered to be delivered from one of his favourite restaurants, Vlados.

The 64-year-old offered a smile as he sat at the dining table alongside Ms Mahoney midway through their meal.

A half eaten portion of meat and salad was visible on the table.

‘Just had a delicious dinner… They even sent their mustard and horseradish. Strawberry pancakes for dessert.’  

Barnes has been commended for remaining positive and being a voice of reason while having to quarantine, after several international tennis players were slammed for complaining about their treatment.

The Australian Open will go ahead in Melbourne, but players have been subjected to strict quarantine protocols to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Yulia Putintseva has been criticised for holding up a sign which read: 'We need fresh air to breathe'

Yulia Putintseva has been criticised for holding up a sign which read: ‘We need fresh air to breathe’

Barnes has been commended for remaining positive and being a voice of reason while having to quarantine, after several international tennis players were slammed for complaining about their treatment

Barnes has been commended for remaining positive and being a voice of reason while having to quarantine, after several international tennis players were slammed for complaining about their treatment

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was vocal about his displeasure with the Australian quarantine system, but backtracked after receiving widespread criticism for his views. 

The 33-year-old denied that he had issued a list of ‘demands’ about quarantine conditions in Melbourne, claiming instead that they were simply suggestions to help his fellow competitors.

Along with the likes of Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, Djokovic is serving his 14-day quarantine in luxury apartments in Adelaide, and is allowed to train for five hours a day.

But more than 70 players are unable to leave their Melbourne hotel rooms under hard quarantine after at least 10 players and their entourages tested positive to the virus on charter flights to Australia. 

Novak Djokovic, pictured on his hotel balcony in Adelaide, reportedly issued a list of demands for stranded players including a shorter quarantine and access to tennis courts

Novak Djokovic, pictured on his hotel balcony in Adelaide, reportedly issued a list of demands for stranded players including a shorter quarantine and access to tennis courts  

Djokovic advocated for them to be granted an early release from lockdown or get permission to quarantine at luxury homes with personal tennis courts to train on.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews rejected every single one of the requests.

He told players: ‘There’s no special treatment here… because the virus doesn’t treat you specially, so neither do we.’ 

The tournament is due to make a delayed start on February 8, leaving players hitting balls off windows, walls and upturned beds in the hope of being ready. 

Australia closed its international border in March and has since limited the number of its own citizens who can return each week.

Melbourne suffered a major resurgence of the virus during the Australian winter, but has since beaten it back, and Australia now sees only a handful of local cases a day.

‘Our health safety is more important to us than your feelings of privilege and entitlement,’ one Twitter user wrote.

‘Most of us here in Melbourne do not want tennis players here potentially reintroducing the virus and causing us to go back to harsh restrictions,’ said another.

Andrews said all the players had known about Australia’s strict quarantine rules ahead of their flights.

‘The notion that there’s been any change, the notion that people weren’t briefed, I think that argument really has no integrity whatsoever,’ he said.

Djokovic is also asking for as many players as possible to be placed in private houses with a tennis court to train on

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (pictured in hotel quarantine in Adelaide) wants fitness and training materials in all rooms and better food for 72 tennis stars forced into hard quarantine

Djokovic (pictured left arriving in Adelaide last week, and right in hotel quarantine) wants fitness and training materials in all rooms and better food for 72 tennis stars forced to isolate 

Mexican tennis star Santiago Gonzalez filmed a video of himself getting a Covid test inside his hotel

Mexican tennis star Santiago Gonzalez filmed a video of himself getting a Covid test inside his hotel