BEVERLY HILL, January 16, (THEWILL) – In the build-up for next month’s Australian Open, there was another jolt after three coronavirus infections were reported on two Down Under-bound flights from Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi to the year’s first grand slam on Saturday. This has forced 47 players and their entourage on board into a two-week hotel quarantine.
THEWILL recalls that coaches for World number two player Rafa Nadal and Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem were unable to get on flights heading into Australia because of the strict COVID-19 restrictions from Tennis Australia and because of a positive test result respectively.
Among the 47 forced to self-quarantine are two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and world number 68, Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.
Tennis Australia agreed to accept about 1,200 players, officials and staff on 15 inbound flights for the Slam due to begin next month. Those players and teams fortunate not to be on the infected flights and who are not affected in any other way will be allowed up to five hours of training a day.
Apart from the trio of Azarenka, Stephens and Cuevas, Mexican player Santiago Gonzalez also confirmed being on the Los Angeles flight in a social media post. There is also the case of American Tennys Sandgren, who was granted special permission to travel from California late last week after testing positive.
Commenting on the development, CEO of Tennis Australia and tournament director, Craig Tiley, said: “We are communicating with everyone on this flight, and particularly the playing group whose conditions have now changed, to ensure their needs are being catered to as much as possible.”
It is inauspicious timing for Australia as these inbound infections are breaking just as states began to relax travel bans on signs that an outbreak in the northern state of Queensland has been contained. Local media have reported one locally acquired case in western Sydney, thought to be linked a known cluster in New South Wales, according to health officials.
In a bid to cut the risk of highly infectious strains seeping into the community, as occurred at a site in Queensland two weeks ago, Australia has halved the number of returning travellers that it will accept. On Friday, Emirates Airlines announced the suspension of flights between Dubai and Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane by early next week until further notice.
Before recently logging 20 infections hotel quarantine overnight, Australia was one of the world’s most successful nations in managing the spread of COVID-19. There was only about 28,700 infections and 909 deaths compared to much higher numbers per population in other parts of the world.
That was responsible for their very strict stance on those coming in for the Grand Slam. They did not want to cancel the entire competition but, as much as was possible, within the standard health and safety protocols, they wanted to ensure they did not put the lives of their citizens at risk, especially with more infectious strains of the virus spreading across Europe.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
