Czech tennis player Renata Voracova, who had to leave Australia after being placed in the same detention center as Novak Djokovic, announced on Tuesday that she would seek financial compensation from the Australian Tennis Federation (TA).
Voracova and Djokovic, not vaccinated against Covid-19, had initially obtained an exemption from the health rules in force in Australia to fight against the coronavirus. But the authorities refused entry into the territory to Voracova, as to the world No. 1, believing that his ground for exemption did not meet the conditions. She was then placed in the same detention center as "
Djoko
", in Melbourne, before being finally released and returning to the Czech Republic after the cancellation of her visa, unlike the Serb, who was released and awaits a final decision as to its status.
Doubles player Voracova told the Czech daily Denik that her financial request "
would not be modest
". “
The plane ticket alone cost me 60,000 Czech crowns (2,460 euros, editor's note) and my trainer traveled with me, detailed the world N.82. And then there is also all this time, the paid hotels, the training for the Australian Open…
”. "
I hope that the Australian Tennis Federation will accept and that we will not need to initiate legal proceedings,
" added the 38-year-old player, who returned to Prague on Monday.
“
I don't think about tennis.
I'm still in shock, I haven't digested yet.
I'm exhausted
, ”whispered Voracova, before admitting that she didn't want to remember what happened in Melbourne.
“
I wouldn't even have imagined that in my worst nightmare, it was way too much.
It was like watching a movie ... a long interrogation with orders like 'take your clothes off', 'get dressed'.
I don't even want to think about it, let alone relive it.
"
A few hours later, while considering that "
all players should be vaccinated
" and as such supporting "
fully the immigration policies put in place
" in Australia, the WTA women's circuit deplored the treatment reserved for the Czech. According to the WTA, the complications experienced by players who obtained a formal medical exemption "
are regrettable
."
"
Renata Voracova, who followed these rules and procedures, was allowed to enter the country, was able to participate in a test, before seeing her visa suddenly canceled when she had done nothing wrong
," said the instance in a press release.
"
We will continue to work with all authorities to address this unfortunate situation in an appropriate manner,
" the WTA concluded.