Scandal in the ATP of Saint Petersburg by a tennis player who escaped

10/14/2020 17:09

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 10/14/2020 17:09

A scandal broke out at the

, one of the competitions that kicked off the indoor hard court tour this week.

The ATP confirmed on Tuesday that a player participating in the tournament violated the rules of the coronavirus prevention protocol and announced that it is carrying out an investigation in this regard.

Although the name of the tennis player was not officially confirmed, different specialized journalists have already spread that the protagonist of the incredible story was Sam Querrey, who had tested positive in the previous one of the contest.

According to the New York Times journalist

, after being dropped from the contest, the American had to isolate himself for 14 days in the hotel where he was staying, along with his wife Abby and their eight-month-old son Ford, who they also tested positive.

But when they were told that if they had symptoms they could be hospitalized, Querrey chartered a private plane and fled Russia, without authorization from the organizers or local authorities.

The 49th world number was due to make his debut in the tournament against Canadian

in singles and was also scored to play the doubles alongside his compatriot

.

On Monday, the ATP reported that a player, whom it did not identify, had tested positive for coronavirus and had been eliminated from the contest.

St. Petersburg Open Statement pic.twitter.com/xkWeDk3gFk

- ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) October 12, 2020

The movements in the tables showed that it was Querrey, who was replaced in the individual tournament by the Serbian

.

And it was also known that the American was isolated and asymptomatic.

So far, nothing out of the ordinary, in this 2020 of rules and procedures altered by the pandemic.

But

.

First, when the ATP communicated the "protocol violation".

And then when Querrey's name began to be associated with the episode.

After having tested positive in the first test, the American, his wife and his son were left isolated in the hotel, waiting for a second control, which was to be carried out this Wednesday.

According to Rothenberg, the player then received an unexpected call from the local health authorities advising him that they would be examined by a doctor and, if they showed symptoms, they would be hospitalized.

Querrey, with mild symptoms, did not want to risk being separated from his family.

So he contacted a private jet company that was his sponsor in the past, and chartered a jet to get out of Russia.

The American and his family traveled to a nearby European country, which did not require a negative test to enter, and they plan to stay there, at least for now, and keep their whereabouts a secret.

"The ATP is aware of an incident regarding a player's serious breach of protocol relating to COVID-19 at this week's St. Petersburg Open" pic.twitter.com/ZatxI4qym3

- Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) October 14, 2020

The "flight" of the American caused surprise and anger within the ATP, which described it as a

"Accepting the safety and health protocols is critical to ensure that tournaments can be held safely and within the guidelines established by local authorities," the association said.

"We remind tennis players and their team members that protocol violations can endanger the development of the tournaments and have repercussions on the rest of the circuit. According to the ATP Code of Conduct, we consider this situation extremely serious. and we started an investigation into it, "he added.

Failure to comply with the rules, which the players undertake to respect in order to play a contest, constitutes a serious offense and whoever commits it risks receiving a harsh sanction.

Querrey had planned to play in some indoor European tour events, including the Masters 1000 in Paris.

However, his sneaky escape from St. Petersburg could leave him out of that contest and also cost him dearly for next season.

FK