Australian Open: Nishikori, Azarenka, Stephens & Co. affected - 24 players have to be in "hard quarantine"
Nightmare at the Australian Open: Two passengers on board a charter flight to Melbourne tested positive for the corona virus. The players on board this machine are not allowed to train for the next 14 days.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Jan 16, 2021, 09:14 am
It is the worst-case scenario that everyone involved wanted to avoid: After two passengers on board a charter flight to Melbourne tested positive for COVID-19, all 67 passengers have to go into a 14-day "hard quarantine". This also affects 24 players who, unlike initially planned, are not allowed to train for five hours a day.
These players include Kei Nishikori, Victoria Azarenka, Vasek Pospisil, Lauren Davis, Sloane Stephens-Guido Pella, Juan Ignacio Londero, Pablo Cuevas, Santi González, Artem Sitak. And Tennys Sandgren, who had caused quite a stir even before departure .
No player tested positive
In Melbourne, however, it wasn't Sandgren who tested positive for the coronavirus. Those affected are a member of the crew and a trainer who is reported to be the coach of Lauren Davis. Both have already been taken to a separate hotel.
Since all other people on board the aircraft are considered close contacts, both players and carers are not allowed to leave the quarantine, it said on the part of the Ministry of Health and Social Services of the State of Victoria. Only the remaining flight crew were allowed to fly back to their home port after a negative test.
Tiley confirms training ban
The training ban was confirmed a little later by the organizers of the Australian Open around tournament director Craig Tiley: "We communicate with everyone who has taken this flight and especially with the group of players, whose requirements have now changed, so that we can ensure that their needs are as good as possible as possible and your situation is carefully assessed. "
The preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on February 8, is of course anything but optimal for the players concerned. They will only be able to keep fit in their hotel rooms - not ideal if a Grand Slam tournament is due one week after the end of the quarantine.