MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Preparation for the Australian Open next month was thrown into disarray on Saturday when 47 players were forced into two weeks of strict hotel quarantine after coronavirus infections were reported on two chartered flights that transported them to Melbourne.
Two dozen players and their employees disembarked from Los Angeles to quarantine after a crew member and a non-player passenger tested positive for COVID-19.
Another 23 players who arrived on a chartered flight from Abu Dhabi had a similar fate after another non-player passenger was found to be positive, organizers of the first grand slam of the year said in a statement.
Players “will not be able to leave their hotel rooms for 14 days and until they have medical clearance,” they said.
“They will not be eligible to practice.”
Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and New Zealander Artemis Sitak confirmed through social media that they were on the flight from Los Angeles.
According to local media, double champion Victoria Azarenka, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and Japanese Kei Nishikori were also on the flight.
Another player reportedly on the same plane was Tennys Sandgren, who was given special permission to travel from Los Angeles late last week after testing positive for the new coronavirus he already had.
Tennis Australia said in a statement that the decision to allow Sandgren to fly was taken after a review by medical officials. A spokesperson for COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria said it was common among people with a positive test to “release viral fragments for some time – which could trigger another positive result”.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said: “We are communicating with everyone on this flight, especially with the group of players whose conditions have now changed, to ensure that their needs are met as much as possible.”
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk said she was on the flight from Abu Dhabi.
Several players resorted to social media to vent their frustration and resentment at not having trained.
“Weeks and weeks of practice and hard work being wasted on a positive Covid person on a 3/4 empty plane. Sorry, but this is crazy ”, tweeted the Frenchman Alize Cornet.
Kirsten Flipkens, from Belgium, criticized the decision to quarantine all players, calling it “Russian roulette”.
Sitak, from New Zealand, said “it obviously wasn’t great”, but he was aware of the risks ahead and seemed relaxed to be stuck in his hotel room.
“I ordered a bicycle, so I hope to get one and get in shape, and we will probably be out on January 29,” said the 34-year-old in a video on his Instagram page.
Later, he posted a photo of his exercise bike saying “I have this beauty”.
After the organizers found themselves victims of the ire of many players, Azarenka sounded a different note.
“If you have time to complain, then you have time to find a solution,” tweeted the Belarusian.
Australia has agreed to accept about 1,200 players, officials and officials on 15 flights for the big sporting event that begins on February 8.
Reporting by Melanie Burton and Ian Ransom; Additional reporting by Amlan Chakraborty; Edition by William Mallard, Jacqueline Wong and Hugh Lawson