It’s a pretty surreal story, unveiled by Ben Rothenberg, reporter for the New York Times. It concerns the American tennis player Sam Querrey, 49th in the world. Supposed to participate in the tournament in Saint Petersburg (ATP 250), he tested positive for the coronavirus and was therefore forced to forfeit when he had to face the Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the first round. With his wife and their eight-month-old son, also Covid-19 positive, they were instructed to stay in solitary confinement for 14 days in their very chic hotel in St. Petersburg. The matter could have ended there.
A “serious violation” of the regulations according to ATP
Except that Querrey and his family received a call from the Russian health authorities telling them that they were going to be visited by a doctor and that in case of symptoms, they could be hospitalized. A news not really well received by the Querrey couple, who felt mild symptoms and who feared being separated from their baby. The 33-year-old then opted for a radical solution by deciding to leave Russia with his family to take refuge in a “nearby European country”, where it is not necessary to present a negative test to enter.
Querrey fleeing Russia and violating their health protocols has caused considerable consternation for the ATP, which called it a “serious breach” and said “we are taking this matter extremely seriously and an investigation is underway.”https://t.co/fB8Eon5whe
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) October 14, 2020
This small expedition, carried out via a private jet, could be worth a big sanction to Querrey, obliged to remain very discreet in his new country not to alert more the health authorities. In a statement, ATP denounced a “serious violation” of its protocol and could impose a sanction in the form of a fine or suspension. We take this matter extremely seriously and an investigation is underway “, announced the instance. For the time being, Querrey remains registered in other tournaments, including the Masters 1000 of Paris-Bercy, which will be held from October 31. to November 8. Until then, no one knows where he is.
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