Corona-Fall Paire: Zverev criticizes organizers - confusion around Medvedev
Alexander Zverev criticized the organizers of the US Open for dealing with the positive corona test by Frenchman Benoit Paire.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit: Sep 01, 2020, 06:21 am
"The US Open did not do the best job of informing us. We learned the whole situation with Benoit Paire through the media, like everyone else," complained Zverev after his entry into the second round of New York at Eurosport.
Paire had tested positive for the corona virus the day before the tournament started and was taken out of the competition. "I think that in such a situation we players should be informed first," said Zverev: "We have seen Benoit the whole time. As players, we also have to know who was with whom." He himself "saw Paire once in the elevator," reported Zverev, "but other players were with him and they weren't so happy that they found out about it on Twitter."
What about Medvedev?
According to the New York Times , these players now had to sign an agreement that they would undergo daily corona tests. In addition, they are no longer allowed to use the common areas in the "bubble" and are only allowed to stay in their rooms in the hotel. "They are not allowed to take the buses, they are not allowed out of the room, they are only allowed to play the match," said Zverev, who said that last year's finalist Daniil Medvedev (Russia) was also one of Pairs' close contacts and is now isolated.
"I know that Medvedev is one of them," said the man from Hamburg: "I'm very good friends with him, we've been together with the Russian troops sometimes. And Daniil is not allowed to leave the room now." Medvedev's coach Gilles Cervara contradicted this statement to the New York Times , however, saying that his protégé was "not at all" influenced by Pairs' positive test.
Medvedev, seeded at three, is scheduled to play in his first round match against Federico Delbonis in the night session on Tuesday.