- Australian Open players have begun fighting among themselves over the differing quarantine restrictions in place in the nation
- All of the competitors and staff in the tennis tournament have been placed in isolation in either Melbourne or Adelaide
- Adelaide-based players are able to train, while those in Melbourne must stay in their hotel rooms as people around them have tested positive for COVID-19
- The differing conditions have led to complaints on social media, with Melbourne players attacking the food and conditions of hotel quarantine
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out easing restrictions for players in Melbourne, while Australian Open officials have thanked competitors for their patience
Australian Open players have begun fighting among themselves over the differing quarantine restrictions they’re facing.
All of the competitors and staff taking part in the leading tennis tournament have been placed in isolation in either Melbourne or Adelaide.
Those undertaking their mandatory two-week quarantine in Adelaide, such as World Number One Naomi Osaka, are able to practice on court for five hours a day.
However, those in Melbourne must remain in their hotel rooms for the whole 14 days as several people on their international flights tested positive for COVID-19, making them a spread risk.
The differing quarantine situations has prompted accusations of favouritism from some players, including Austrian player Philipp Oswald.
“I don’t think it’s entirely fair that a few players are allowed to train in Adelaide and we are barracked in Melbourne,” Philipp said in an interview.
Australian player Bernard Tomic’s wife has also taken to Youtube to complain of being unable to wash her hair while in hotel quarantine.
“This is the worst part of quarantine. I don’t wash my own hair. I’ve never washed my own hair. It’s just not something that I do. I normally have hairdressers that do it twice a week for me,” she explained in the video.
Other complaints from players include the lack of available gym equipment, the standard of food being delivered and even concerns about a mouse.
Been trying to change the room for a 2 hours already ! And no one came to help due to quarantine situation🤦🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/LAowgWqw58
— Yulia Putintseva (@PutintsevaYulia) January 16, 2021
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is refusing to change any of the quarantine conditions in place in Melbourne, despite World Number One Novak Djokovic reportedly asking for leniency.
“People are free to provide lists of demands. But the answer is no,” The Premier said on Monday.
“That was very clearly laid out beforehand. So the notion that there’s been any change, the notion that people weren’t briefed – I think that that argument really has no integrity whatsoever,” he added.
In the meantime, Australia Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley has thanked those players who’ve quarantined without complaint.
“The majority of the players have been absolutely fantastic and this is a playing group that’s a little bit upset with what some of the playing group have said, it holds them in a bad light in the community,” he explained.
“This is the first time that these players have experienced anything like this and this is the price that our guests and anyone coming into Australia needs to pay,” he added.