Aussie Open show will go on despite positive tests
THERE are no plans to call off the Australian Open despite four positive COVID tests resulting from two flights bringing players into the country, Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has insisted.
Tiley assured the public everything was being done to ensure people’s safety.
Currently 47 players from two charter flights are in hard lockdown as a result of positive tests, which are believed to be two coaches, one member of flight crew and a member of a broadcast team.
Several players directly affected have taken to social media to complain about the strict measures, with Romania’s Sorana Cirstea declaring she “would have stayed at home” had she known players would be denied practice time and confined to hotel rooms.
The opening slam of 2021 has been dogged by major challenges and is dealing with significant public backlash about why it is going ahead.
“Ideally it’s not what we wanted,” Tiley told Channel 9. “We have had 643 negative tests and three positives.
“We always knew there would be significant risk, with this pandemic you can never tell. The Australian Open is going ahead and we will do what we possibly can to ensure the players that don’t have a great situation have what is somewhat acceptable.
“The first objective is everyone remains as healthy as possible and not the cause of further spread.”
Cirstea said: “I would need at least 3 weeks after in order to be in decent form again and compete at a high level.
“People complaining are entitled.” we