An unnamed player in the St Petersburg ATP 500 tournament is being investigated by the ATP for allegedly breaking COVID-19 protocols.
Their official statement read:-
“The ATP is aware of an incident regarding a player’s serious breach of protocol relating to COVID-19 at this week’s St. Petersburg Open. Adhering to health and safety protocols is critical to ensure that events take place safely and within guidelines established by local authorities,”
“Players and their support team members are reminded that breaches of protocol can jeopardise an event’s ability to operate and have repercussions for the rest of the Tour. In accordance with the ATP’s Code of Conduct, we are taking this matter extremely seriously and an investigation is underway.”
The event featured five Top 20 players.
Whilst the ATP did not name the player, the fact that the only player to withdraw from the tournament due to illness was America’s Sam Querrey aroused suspicions.
Reports from New York Times journalist Ben Rothenberg have indicated that Querrey’s wife and son had also tested positive and the family were ordered to self-isolate for 14 days in a St Petersburg hotel and await further examination by a local doctor who, if the symptoms were confirmed would hospitalise them.
Worried about the possibility of being separated from his wife Abby Dixon and son Ford, Querrey chartered a private jet, fled to an unidentified European country and is staying in an AirBNB.
Querrey has made no public comment and is said to be keeping his current location secret.
The incident is classed as a severe breach of COVID-19 protocols and will probably have serious consequences for Querrey.
