Paula Badosa defends social media posts criticising quarantine despite positive test
COVID-19 positive tennis star Paula Badosa must restart her lockdown as she defended her social media posts criticising quarantine.
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The Australian Open’s first player to test positive to the coronavirus says her earlier complaints were about the rules changing “overnight” rather than her not caring about safety.
All previous COVID-19 player cases involved non-contagious viral shedding, whereas Spain’s Paula Badosa is “unwell” and experiencing symptoms, on top of her positive test.
The world No.67 confirmed late on Thursday night she’d been transferred to a health hotel, where all positive cases tied to the grand slam are based.
The Herald Sun has contacted Tennis Australia for comment.
Badosa was on the Abu Dhabi flight that 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu’s coach, Sylvain Bruneau, revealed on Saturday night he tested positive on.
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“I have some bad news. Today I received a positive COVID-19 test result,” Badosa posted on Twitter.
“I’m feeling unwell and have some symptoms, but I’ll try to recover as soon as possible listening to the doctors.
“I’ve been taken to a health hotel to self-isolate and be monitored. Thanks for your support. We’ll be back stronger.”
After it was revealed Badosa was the first active infection, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said players who test positive for COVID-19 will have to restart their hard lockdown.
In a move that could disrupt a player’s training, and potentially their grand slam bid, Prof Sutton on Friday said anyone with a positive result must isolate for 10 to 14 days, regardless of how long they had already quarantined.
Calling it an “unfortunate consequence”, Prof Sutton said the latest positive test results were “proof” that hard lockdown measures were “necessary”.
“The isolation period starts from when that case is confirmed,” Prof Sutton said.
“For ordinary coronavirus that period is at least 10 days, so you have to be free of symptoms for three days and complete that 10 days.
“For the variants of concern — including the B117 or the UK strain as some call it — that period of isolation is 14 days, so it will depend on those elements and you need to be symptom free and medically cleared.”
— Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) January 21, 2021
The Herald Sun understands Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley briefed the players on Thursday night about Badosa’s test.
It was the second of three Melbourne-bound charter flights that had a positive case on board, and all 64 passengers – including 23 players – have since been in hard quarantine and unable to leave their hotel room.
It’s unclear at this stage whether Badosa will have to restart her 14 days in quarantine and if she still plans to compete at the Australian Open.
She had earlier complained about the conditions in social media posts and during an Instagram Live session with close friend and fellow player Marta Kostyuk.
It’s understood Kostyuk was set to be Badosa’s hitting partner before they entered hard quarantine.
Badosa previously posted in an Instagram ‘story’: “14 days in a room that we can’t open the door and we can’t open windows!!!!! We can’t even breathe fresh air.”
The 23-year-old’s been reminded of those early reactions since her positive test and took to Twitter to clarify her position on Friday.
“Please, don’t get me wrong. Health will always come first and I feel grateful for being in Australia,” Badosa wrote.
“Quarantine and preventive measures are pivotal right now. I talked about rules that changed overnight, but I understand the sad situation we are living. Sorry guys. Stay safe.”
Tiley and his team have copped player criticism about them not being aware a single positive COVID-19 test could result in all passengers on a charter flight being sent to hard quarantine.
How it started How it's going#AusOpen #Tennis pic.twitter.com/DgCzb9GzYV
— Break Point (@BreakPointPod) January 21, 2021
However, Tiley’s been firm in his public statements that this worst-case scenario was communicated to the playing cohort.
“Often, when you communicate that and someone has never experienced that, it may be brushed off or maybe not perceived to be exactly like it was,” Tiley said.
“There have been accusations that have been made on us that players didn’t know and that’s simply not true.”
The Royal Tennis Association of Spain (RFET) issued a statement disputing Tiley’s version of events, saying the players “were not advised of the possibility that they would be strictly confined” in these circumstances.
The RFET also requested that Tennis Australia “solve the problem” of two Spanish qualifiers in hard lockdown, Mario Vilella and 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.
“It is clear that these two players … will not be able to compete on equal terms with the rest of the players,” the statement read.
“And it is not only a competitive problem of this first grand slam. The issue is that their season could be severely damaged by a 14-day lockdown.”
There are 72 players in total in hard quarantine and eight active coronavirus cases tied to the tournament, and another from a steward on one of the charter flights.
Bruneau, who tested negative before departing for Australia, issued an emotional statement at the time of his positive test, saying he was “extremely saddened and sorry” for everyone else who shared the flight.
He added that he had followed all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines while in the Middle East.
- with Alex White
DJOKOVIC: I MISS BEING FREE
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic says he misses “being free” and wants to run to a park when he is released from quarantine in Adelaide.
Asked what he wanted most after he has served his 14 days in isolation, the tennis star said: “just freedom”.
“The first thing I am going to do ... I’m just going to run straight to this park and I’m just going to spend an hour there,” he said.
“I miss it. I miss being free and being able to walk around.
“I haven’t been to Adelaide in many years so if I get a chance I will probably go around.”
Djokovic is among six of the world’s best players quarantining in comparative luxury in Adelaide, while hundreds of other players and staff see out their two-week isolation in Melbourne.
More than 70 players are in hard quarantine, unable to leave their rooms or train, after sharing charter flights with positive cases.
The World No. 1 sparked backlash this week when he issued Australian Open organisers with “suggestions” for eased quarantine conditions, including moving players to private homes with courts to train on.
He told Adelaide’s Mix 102.3 that quarantine was a “unique experience” and that he could not complain.
“Honestly, it has been a wonderful experience so far for me being in quarantine. It has been different obviously,” Djokovic said.
“Nobody likes to be locked up in a room for 14 days but at the same time we have been very fortunate comparing to the guys in Melbourne as well.
“We are getting more hours outside and on the court, and having a balcony and some fresh air.
“I can’t complain, I really love Australia ... it is the country of sport.”
WELL KNOWN UMPIRE SUFFERS HEART ATTACK: REPORT
Veteran tennis umpire Carlos Bernardes has reportedly suffered a heart attack inside his hotel quarantine room in Melbourne.
The well-known umpire was rushed to hospital and is now in a stable condition, according to Tennis News Brazil.
The website published pictures of Bernardes being taken to hospital by ambulance paramedics outside his hotel.
Bernardes was in hard lockdown along with 72 players who have flown into Melbourne for this year’s tournament.
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Originally published as Paula Badosa defends social media posts criticising quarantine despite positive test
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