By now I\u2019m sure you know the situation in Australia due to COVID: If you don\u2019t live there you can\u2019t visit unless you have citizenship; if your parents or kids are there and you haven\u2019t seen them for God knows how long you still can\u2019t enter. Even if you have citizenship and are re-entering the country, you\u2019re stuck having to quarantine for 14 days in a designated hotel.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the thing. With the 2021 Australian Open<\/a> taking place, albeit a few weeks after it was originally planned, tennis players are getting somewhat of an exception to enter the country and play the event. On paper that\u2019s great for staff, players, and fans. Staff will have jobs as some may currently be unemployed, players will be able to compete in one of tennis\u2019 biggest events and earn prize money, and fans will have a Grand Slam to watch.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, for all the good the event can bring, there\u2019s simply so much bad that it\u2019s honestly laughable and embarrassing that the event is going ahead. One of these biggest cases is the quarantining required of certain players, which is simply unfair.<\/p>\n As expected, due to Australia being closed to the general public, special flights from all over the world were scheduled for players and their teams to arrive–all 1200+ of them. Whilst everyone was tested pre-flight, that doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t test positive a few days later after the flight.<\/p>\n Earlier we found out a few people on these flights entering Australia tested positive upon arrival. Due to this, everyone on these flights will now have to quarantine for 14 days, among them 47 players<\/a>–including the likes of Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, Angelique Kerber, and Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori.<\/p>\n This is when things get pathetic–during quarantine these players won\u2019t be allowed to practice and train. Sorana Cirstea voiced her frustration on Twitter about the situation, claiming she doesn\u2019t mind quarantining for 14 days–making a joke about spending it watching Netflix–but the issue coming in competing at the Australian Open with no practice and training after. How can we expect these players to compete with others who’ve been training for five hours (and more in some cases) a day for the two weeks they’re locked away?<\/p>\n People complaining we are entitled. I have no issues to stay 14 days in the room watching netflix. Believe me this is a dream come true, holiday even. What we cant do is COMPETE after we have stayed 14 days on a couch. This is the issue,not the quarantine rule.<\/p>\n — Sorana Cirstea (@sorana_cirstea) January 16, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n