Tennys Sandgren, Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, and Kei Nishikori are among the unlucky players that were on a flight directed to Melbourne, where 2 people resulted positive for Covid-19. There was a lot of drama about that flight. Initially, Sandgren was refused on the plane as he tested positive. However, he already recovered from the Coronavirus 8 weeks ago before and therefore he was deemed as not infectious.
Things got pretty bad later when it appeared that 2 other people on that plane tested positive for the Coronavirus: the coach of Lauren Davis and a flight attendant. The outcome was that all people on that flight would have to observe a strict quarantine in the hotel. The original plan was for all players to leave their room for 5 hours each day only to train. However, the passengers of that flight will not have that luxury.
Tennis Australia released the following statement:
“Two positive COVID-19 tests were returned from one of the charter flights into Melbourne in the past 24 hours.
There were 79 people on the flight, including 67 passengers, of which 24 are players.
The two positive tests have been returned by a member of the flight crew and a passenger who is not a player, who returned a negative test within 72 hours prior to boarding the flight.
All passengers from the flight are already in quarantine hotels and the two positive cases transferred to a health hotel.
The 24 players on the flight will not be able to leave their hotels rooms for 14 days and until they are medically cleared. They will not be eligible to practise.
Craig Tiley, Australian Open Tournament Director:
“We are communicating with everyone on this flight, and particularly the playing group whose conditions have now changed, to ensure their needs are being catered to as much as possible, and that they are fully appraised of the situation.
“Our thoughts are with the two people who tested positive on the flight and we wish
them well for their recovery.”
Tennys Sandgren in 2021
Ranked world no.50, Sandgren played his last match on the 3rd of November 2020 when he was defeated by Pierre-Hugues Herbert 2-6 6-4 7-6(4) in the 1st round in Paris (draw).
Victoria Azarenka in 2021
Now the world no.13, the Belarussian played her last contest on the 25th of October 2020 when she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-2 in the final in Ostrava (draw).
Sloane Stephens in 2021
At the moment ranked no.39, the American played her last match on the 1st of October 2020 when she lost to Paula Badosa 6-4 4-6 6-2 in the 2nd round of the French Open (draw).
Kei Nishikori in 2021
Ranked world no.41, the Japanese played his last match on the 30th of September 2020 when he capitulated to Stefano Travaglia 6-4 2-6 7-6(7) 4-6 6-2 in the 2nd round of the French Open (draw).
