Australian Open star Yulia Putintseva performs protest against hotel room quarantine

Yulia Putintseva is fuming about being forced to endure 14 days in quarantine, appealing for one basic change to make it more bearable.

Tennis star Yulia Putintseva has continued to rage about enduring 14 days in quarantine, venting her angst on social media as she protested against the lack of exposure to fresh air.

The 26-year-old was vocal in her criticism as 72 players were forced into two weeks of lockdown after positive COVID-19 virus cases were detected on several flights carrying competitors into Melbourne for the Australian Open.

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She’s unhappy she can’t even open a window, posting a photo to social media of her holding up a sign with the message: “We need fresh air to breathe.” Putintseva added the hashtags “#freshairisimportant” and “#atleast10minutesaday” to her post.

inspired by @dudewithsign P.S. windows do not open #freshairisimportant #atleast10minutesaday pic.twitter.com/nwSDWPE6RB

— Yulia Putintseva (@PutintsevaYulia) January 19, 2021

Much of the animosity from players has stemmed from the belief they would only be classified “close contacts” and need to spend 14 days in isolation if a member of their team tested positive.

They were separated into different sections on planes and those complaining didn’t think they would need to go into a hard quarantine if another passenger — not part of their entourage — contracted coronavirus.

Initially, players were told they would be allowed out of their rooms for five hours a day — but that situation quickly changed for many of them.

Putintseva followed up her protest post with several tweets, saying it’s impossible to compete after 14 days in quarantine and asking for all players to face the same conditions to ensure a level playing field.

“Three days before travel it was new information, that our plane will be divided by zones! And the zone with covid case will be isolated!” Putintseva tweeted.

“And when we arrived here they provided us a new info that if 1 person is positive the whole plane has to be under quarantine! Only when we got here.

“That’s actually not the biggest problem! I mean rules changing and yes it’s really uncomfortable but we can’t play after being stuck in room for 14 days! That’s impossible! That’s why we were asking for equality to put everyone from the tennis group on the strict quarantine so it’s fair.

“No fresh air is a big problem. No one is asking hours, just 10 minutes per day!”

Responding to someone who told Putintseva adhering to lockdown rules is important because of what Victorians went through last year, the star from Kazakhstan wrote: “I 100% agree with you and I totally respect you guys that you did unreal job to be in the situation with no covid cases!

“But I don’t understand why to make the tournament then? And make everyone uncomfortable? Residents, players, coaches, volunteers just everyone!”

On the weekend, Putintseva was one of many who lashed out.

“What I don’t understand is that, why no one ever told us, if one person on board is positive the whole plane needs to be isolated. I would think twice before coming here,” she tweeted.

“They said, you have to only if you or one of your team members is positive! Not a random person on the plane.”

Putintseva was also unlucky enough to spot a mouse in her hotel room.