World No.3 Alexander Zverev has made the bombshell claim that players “are not getting tested” for COVID-19 at the Australian Open.
German Zverev was speaking after beating Australia’s John Millman last night and in the wake of Frenchman Ugo Humbert testing positive for the virus.
Humbert tested positive for COVID-19 after his first round loss on Tuesday, while Australia’s Bernard Tomic sensationally claimed mid-match that he would test positive, and was proven correct two days’ later during qualifying.
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“I think this year in Australia is a lot more cases than last year, simple as that. And we are allowed to go outside to eat, allowed to do whatever we want, so I think it’s natural that more people get COVID,” Zverev said.
“My brother, when he arrived, he had it. He was in quarantine in Sydney, and now he obviously doesn’t have it anymore, but I think quite a few players had it when they arrived. Quite a few players I think have it now.
“We are not getting tested, so I think if we would get tested there would be probably more positives than there are now, in a way.”
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However, a Tennis Australia spokesperson outlined the AO’s COVID-safe player protocols as follows:
– Daily Rapid Antigen tests provided, testing clinics open for extended hours both onsite and at the player hotel; mandatory symptomatic testing
– mask wearing, including in player box – masks to be worn at all times on site except when playing, exercising or eating and drinking
– physical distancing – stay 1.5m apart wherever possible
– safe hygiene, increased hand washing and sanitising
– enhanced cleanliness in all areas, additional cleaning
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