Doubles player Artem Sitak makes it clear: "Knew what we were getting into"
For some players, the emotions boiled up after the complete quarantine became known . If you had known about it, you might not have come, some rumbled. Double player Artem Sitak now made it clear: You had known about it - or could have known it.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 18, 2021, 12:27 pm
Some of the players were in shock when they realized what was on their agenda for the next 14 days: namely nothing. Several flights to Australia produced positive corona tests , the result: 14 days of complete quarantine for the passengers traveling, without the planned five hours per day that were approved for training / getting fit / eating in Melbourne Park.
If they had known about this risk, some of the players - among them Paula Badosa, Marty Kostyuk and Yulia Putintseva - they would have thought twice about flying to Australia.
"So weeks of training and hard work are in vain because one person in an airplane three-quarters empty tests positive for COVID. Sorry, but that's insane," tweeted Alizé Cornet.
To clarify, some made it clear: No, it is not about the hotel quarantine, but about the competitiveness to play a Grand Slam tournament after only one week of acclimatization and training. Possibly against professionals who will have training opportunities. Belinda Bencic: "We don't complain about being in quarantine. We complain about unequal training and playing conditions before quite important tournaments."
Artem Sitak: There weren't many players when we called
The big question: Didn't the players really know about the possibility of what could happen to them if in doubt? No, made the New Zealand double professional Artem Sitak clear in a video. "We had a phone call with Tennis Australia about a month ago. There weren't many players, which surprised me. Tennis Australia told us here about the risks we were taking. And they mentioned that it should be on If someone tests positive on the flight, it is up to the health authorities whether all of the passengers are isolated or just some of them. " In his case, a flight attendant tested positive, "and of course the entire crew must be quarantined," said the 34-year-old.
After the conversation at the latest, it was known how strictly the Australian government was handling the virus. "I was prepared to take this risk, I knew it was a possibility."
Cornet apologizes for her tweet
"You have to put everything in perspective," Sitak continued. “Many Australians are still unable to go home.” And we, as foreigners, more than 1,000 people, are in Australia, are allowed to play a Grand Slam tournament and earn a lot of money. The amount of work that Tennis Australia has done on this is absolutely crazy, I can't even imagine it. We can be happy that we are here. "
After the first shock, however, other professionals seem to be able to classify the situation. Alizé Cornet has meanwhile deleted her tweet and apologized to the Australians. "Your reaction to this tactless comment made me realize what you went through last year and how much you suffered. I should have kept my mouth shut."