Chaos like advanced COVID tests on TWO charter flights transporting players to the Australian Open means 47 PLAYERS including former Victoria Azarenka single and alone and unable to train ahead of the competition in three weeks.
- Covid-19’s steps around the Australian Open have been strengthened
- Two passengers aboard the LA flight to the tournament have been great
- It was confirmed that one participant but none of the players were present
- There were a total of 24 players on the charter plane and they have now been impacted
- It was later confirmed that a positive case had been filed on the Abu Dhabi flight
- That brings the total number of Aus Open players forced to isolation to 47 worries
He competed in the Australian Open after being announced that a scheduled flight from Abu Dhabi had been tested positive for Covid-19, following breaking news that two people on a separate flight had also been shown to have the virus.
As a result of the first flight, from LA to Melbourne, 24 players hoping to appear in the tournament have to be lonely and not be allowed to train for two weeks.
Similarly, the confirmed case on the Abu Dhabi flight has resulted in an additional 23 players having to be completely separated for two weeks, causing chaos for tournament organizers with 47 star now inactive.
A zoom call is understood to have taken place among all the players on Saturday morning.
Those confined to their rooms include former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber and Japanese star Kei Nishikori, along with former Victoria Azarenka.
Two passengers inside one of the planes taking people to the Australian Open have been positive for Covid-19, although no one has been confirmed as a competitor
Japanese star Kei Nishikori (pictured above) flew from LA to Melbourne
Former world champion Victoria Azarenka (pictured above) had also flown from LA to Melbourne where two passengers were positive for Covid
Many of the South American influencers who arrived on a Los Angeles flight and participants in the WTA event in Abu Dhabi ended in midweek.
While it is not certain that the British group, which is largely from Dubai, appears to have been influential so far.
Following the exciting news, tennis star Alize Cornet took to the social media platform Twitter to say: ‘Soon, half of the players from the OS will have to part.
‘Weeks and weeks of practice and hard work going to waste for one positive person to Covid in a 3/4 empty plane. Sorry, this is insane. ‘
Egyptian sports journalist Reem Abulleil later said they were all beaten along with Kerber, other female stars Bianca Andreescu, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ons Jabeur, Marta Kostyuk, Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari.
The Victoria Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement on Saturday that a crew member and a non-player Australian Open partner were taken to a health hotel after returning for advanced tests.
Players began arriving in the country on Thursday ahead of a two-week quarantine, when they get out of their rooms for five hours each day.
But the players and fans on the affected plane have been seen as close liaisons and will not be allowed to go out for training.
‘All 66 remaining passengers on the flight have been confirmed to be in close contact,’ the statement said.
‘No players or support people will be able to leave quarantine to attend training.
‘On arrival in Australia all players are immediately placed in a secure quarantine environment for 14 days under the authority of Covid Quarantine Victoria and will go through a tougher test schedule than for most travelers who ‘return.’
Tennis Australia said in a statement that 24 of the passengers were affected by the players.
This week ferry players, including defending champion Novak Djokovic, have arrived
Serena Williams (pictured right) will be joined by her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. arriving at Adelaide Airport on Thursday
Spanish star Rafael Nadal (pictured) has also touched Australia
Australian Open competition director Craig Tiley said: ‘We are in touch with everyone on this flight, and in particular with the now changed playgroup, to ensure that attendance is catered for. their needs as much as possible, and that they receive a full assessment of the situation.
‘Our thoughts are with the two who made a good test of the flight and we wish them every success in overcoming it.’
The tournament organizers spent several months negotiating an acceptable arrangement with local and national government bodies for the admission of more than 1,000 tennis players and related staff to Australia.
The Australian Open kicks off on February 8 in Melbourne.
As revealed by Sportsmail Andy Murray (in red) has been positive for Covid-19 after showing small marks and is now struggling to play in the tournament despite being lonely