The quarantine of the 72 tennis players confined in Melbourne after detecting positive for COVID-19 on the three flights in which they traveled will not be softened. And less after confirm the authorities of the State of Victoria that two tennis players have tested positive in PCR that happen periodically, according to The Age revealed.
“We are investigating if they are cases of viral dissemination, of people who were infected, overcame the disease and now their viral load is low and perhaps they are not contagious. But the quarantines will not be relaxed, “warned Brett Sutto, the state's health officer.
They would be cases similar to that of the American Tennys Sandgren, which was authorized to fly despite an adverse outcome 72 hours before the trip, as he was shown to have passed the disease in November.
Among the tennis players who cannot leave the rooms are the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (who trains with the mattress as a rival), Mario Vilella and Paula Badosa. While some tennis players talk about “jail”, others like Victoria Azarenka, double champion in Melbourne (2012 and 2013), asked for patience in a public letter. “It is a global pandemic and nobody has a clear manual on how to act. You have to accept these things,” he warned. The organization meanwhile, after the seven positive cases detected in the three flights (only two would correspond to tennis players) offers the confined yoga classes, spinning (for those who have a bike in their room) or challenges (“you only need a racket and a ball,” encourages the organization) with prizes.
The preparation for the Australian Open (from February 8) and the previous tournaments is worrying. “I will have to play ATP Cup matches two days after the end of the quarantine and I am worried about getting injured,” Kei Nishikori warns. For its part, the Open, through its director Craig Tiley, He has already ruled out going from five to three sets to lessen the load.
A situation, that of Melbourne, which contrasts with that of Adelaide, where the best of ATP and WTA are: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, Serena and Venus Williams (the latter two for medical reasons). They enjoy a better hotel, they have been able to go out to train the five hours a day scheduled and more members of their teams and families accompany them. The difference in treatment is explained in that on the 29th they will play an exhibition there. But the feeling of 'favorable treatment' among his Melbourne colleagues is manifest.