Tennis star Roberto Bautista-Agut lashes Australian Open quarantine ‘jail’

A Spanish tennis star has taken a swipe at his Australian hotel prison, declaring health authorities have “no idea” about tennis’ reality.

The World No. 13 tennis player has slammed the Victorian Government’s handling of the Australian Open quarantine program, saying the hotel conditions are the same as a “prison” for players.

Spanish hothead Roberto Bautista Agut has lashed Victorian health authorities, branding the forced isolation a “complete disaster”.

Speaking with Sport5 via mobile phone, the champ said the 14-day Melbourne quarantine was “really tough” and like a prison “with Wi-Fi”.

“These people have no idea about tennis, about practice courts, about anything. It’s a complete disaster because of that,” he said.

“The control of everything is not Tennis Australia, it’s the people from the government…I can’t imagine staying two weeks like this.”

Bautista Agut has been guaranteed a minimum of $100,000 for competing at this year’s Australian Open.

More than 70 players have been forced into hard lockdown for two weeks after several COVID-19 cases on at least three charter flights.

It came just hours after Aussie Nick Kyrgios hit out at his fellow stars on the ATP Tour, labelling World No. 1 Novak Djokovic a “tool”.

Djokovic sent a message to Australian tennis authorities demanding better conditions for players.

Roberto Bautista Agut is ready to walk.

Kyrgios’ responded to the news with a stinging slap.

“Djokovic is a tool,” Kyrgios wrote in response to a Seven News story about the chaos surrounding the Aussie grand slam. “I don’t mind Bernie but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes.”

Kyrgios’ response referenced Bernard Tomic’s girlfriend Vanessa Sierra’s complaints about her own quarantine conditions.

Sierra also shared an intimate view of the couple’s quarantine room, revealing they have been stuck inside playing video games up to 11 hours a day.