Australian Open director Craig Tiley is adamant the tournament will progress as scheduled from February 8 despite the turmoil associated with 47 players being locked into quarantine isolation on Saturday.
But he conceded there could be a significant adjustment to the opening week as Tennis Australia deals with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis that has seen players who arrived in Melbourne on two flights locked down.
“We are reviewing the schedule leading in to see what we can do to assist these players,” he said.
Read Next
“Obviously it is not what we wanted to happen. That is why we took the mitigating measures but we are in this situation, we have to deal with it.
“The Australian Open is going ahead and we will continue to do the best we possibly can do to ensure those players have the best opportunity.”
Any hopes of the delayed summer of tennis running smoothly were dashed when some passengers on two of the 17 charter flights bringing players to Melbourne recorded positive tests.
Victoria’s chief medical officers ruled that everyone on those planes from Los Angeles and the Middle East would be required to serve a strict fortnight of quarantine in isolation.
This means the players affected will no longer be able to train or practise in the five-hour window Tennis Australia, government and health authorities and tour officials had agreed to in order for the Australian summer to progress.
Many of those caught up in the situation are incensed, claiming they were advised that the spacing on planes would alleviate the prospects of them being identified as close contacts to a positive case.
Sorana Cirstea said that “if they would have told us this rule before, I would not play in Australia. I would have stayed home.”
“They told us we would fly at 20 per cent capacity, in sections, and we would be a close contact only if my team or cohort tests positive,” she posted on social media.
It is a sentiment shared by many players now in isolation. As Swiss player Belinda Bencic said, the situation effectively ruins their chances of competing successfully next month.
“We are not complaining (about being) in quarantine. We are complaining because of unequal practice/playing conditions before quite important tournaments,” she said.
It is worth noting that at least one social media post showed some players on board a flight to Melbourne were not wearing face masks as instructed. The post by dual-major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, which also featured Dayana Yastremska, has since been deleted.
Tiley said it is clear medical authorities are reacting to the threat posed by the UK-variant of COVID-19, which is far more contagious.
Sylvain Bruneau, the coach of Canadian star Bianca Andreescu, expressed devastation that his positive test to coronavirus had placed the hopes of others in jeopardy.
World no. 187 Yulia Putintseva has spotted a furry little animal in her hotel room amidst quarantining for the Australian Open.
“I am deeply sorry to share that I have just tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival here in Melbourne after travelling from Abu Dhabi on flight EY8004,” he said in a statement.
“I have followed all the safety protocols and procedures, including testing negative within 72 hours before the flight departure, and felt perfectly fine when I boarded the plane.
“I also respected and followed all COVID protocols and guidelines while in the Middle East. I have no idea how I might have contracted the virus.
“I am extremely saddened and sorry for the consequences now on everyone’s shoulders sharing my flight.
“The rest of my team is negative and I sincerely hope that any further disruption is kept to a minimum.”
Tennis Australia is in discussions with the players now in quarantine. Tiley said there are plans to move exercise equipment into the rooms of affected players on Sunday to give them a chance to maintain their fitness, if not their form.
He said none of the players had been ruled out of competing in the first week of events in Melbourne, though it is doubtful many will take up the option given the risk of injury.
The initial stages of the Test series between Australia and India provides an example of what can occur to athletes exiting quarantine, with a number of cricketers experiencing soft-tissue injuries.
“They have not been ruled out. It is entirely up to the players on what type of preparation they are going to get,” Tiley told the Nine Network.
“Obviously they are not going to get, at this point, on court preparation. There are still some decisions to be made today and tomorrow. We will just assess that. We will work with each of the players to see what is best.
“This is not an ideal situation. In the pandemic right now, it is not an ideal situation for anyone, and we have to make sure the community stays safe.
“We are going to do whatever we can to make a bad situation better.”
Sports Reporter
Melbourne
Read Next
Comments
Reader comments on this site are moderated before publication to promote lively, but civil and respectful debate. We encourage your comments but submitting one does not guarantee publication. You can read our comment guidelines here. If you believe a comment has been rejected in error, email comments@theaustralian.com.au and we'll investigate. Please ensure you include the email address you use to log in so we can locate your comment.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMipwFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhdXN0cmFsaWFuLmNvbS5hdS9zcG9ydC90ZW5uaXMvYXVzdHJhbGlhbi1vcGVuLXRvLWdvLWFoZWFkLWFzLWFuZ2VyLWJyZXdzLW92ZXItY292aWQtY2hhcnRlci1mbGlnaHQtaGFuZGxpbmcvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS84NmIzNWMwOTUzOGY3MGYyMTU5OWJlZTM2NjI4MzRjMNIBpwFodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVhdXN0cmFsaWFuLmNvbS5hdS9zcG9ydC90ZW5uaXMvYXVzdHJhbGlhbi1vcGVuLXRvLWdvLWFoZWFkLWFzLWFuZ2VyLWJyZXdzLW92ZXItY292aWQtY2hhcnRlci1mbGlnaHQtaGFuZGxpbmcvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS84NmIzNWMwOTUzOGY3MGYyMTU5OWJlZTM2NjI4MzRjMA?oc=5
2021-01-17 00:56:15Z
52781299356323
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Australian Open to go ahead as anger brews over Covid charter flight handling - The Australian"
Post a Comment