Alexander Zverev drew attention on Wednesday after entering the third round at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The Olympic champion believes that Frenchman Ugo Humbert is not the only positive Corona case because, according to him, the tournament organizers do not carry out any tests at all and the players can move freely. Tennis Australia has not yet commented on this.
“I think some players had it when they arrived and some, I think, have it now. We won’t be tested,” explained number three seeded Zverev. Although players have to be fully vaccinated in order to be allowed to enter the Australian Open, as the case of Novak Djokovic has shown in a sensational way, the test protocol at the Grand Slam tournament apparently looks sad. According to Australian broadcaster ABC News, players must take daily antigen tests at their own risk. Proctored tests are only taken on arrival and between days five to seven thereafter.
“Make Bubble for myself”
The Australian Bernard Tomic had already criticized the test protocol in qualifying. “I can’t believe nobody is being tested. They just allow players to go out on the pitch with quick tests in their own rooms – no official PCR tests,” Tomic explained. Two days later he was positive himself.
According to his statements, Zverev takes his protection into his own hands. “I’m here to play the tournament. I see that there are many cases in Melbourne and in Australia. So I don’t do much outside, I haven’t been to a single restaurant,” said Zverev. He was only in the hotel room and on the squares. “So I kind of make a bubble for myself, just because I don’t want to take any risks and I want to give myself the best chance of doing well here.”
This does not cast a good light on the tournament management around Craig Tiley, who has been very silent since the Djokovic saga. The “happy slam”, as the first tennis Grand Slam tournament of the year is often referred to, may be facing new troubles because of its Corona policy.
