Sam Querrey at the Australian Open, in Melbourne on January 24, 2020. – Dita Alangkara / AP / SIPA
In the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, ATP wants tennis players to lead by example. For not having respected anti-Covid-19 protocols during the Saint Petersburg tournament in October, Sam Querrey was sanctioned on Wednesday by the association. The player receives a suspended fine of $ 20,000 (around 16,000 euros), subject to a six-month probation period.
Sam Querrey, 53rd in the world, had left Russia with his wife and their nine-month-old son aboard a private jet despite testing positive for the coronavirus on October 11. Still, ATP health protocols wanted him to isolate himself in his hotel until an apartment was found for him in the city. Officials’ attempts to talk about his health had failed: Querrey “never opened the door to his hotel room” and left Russia at dawn.
An attitude “contrary to the integrity of the game”
The ATP therefore “concluded that Mr. Querrey’s conduct was contrary to the integrity of the game” as defined in its code of conduct. But “taking into consideration his many years of good behavior and other mitigating factors, the fine is suspended and will be lifted. [si] Mr. Querrey does not commit other breaches of health and safety protocols related to Covid-19 during a probationary period of six months ”.
