The tournament director of the US Open has confirmed that a group of players described as ‘close contacts’ of Benoit Paire in recent days will not be withdrawn from the tournament following his positive COVID-19 test.
On Sunday the Frenchman became the first player within the New York bubble to have tested positive for the virus and was automatically moved into isolation. It has been reported that Paire had been practicing with Daniil Medvedev in recent days and was playing card games with other players. Most of whom have not been publicly named. Although the USTA have decided to allow those players to continue playing in the tournament.
The group of individuals has since signed a new waiver and will be limited as to which areas within the bubble they can attend as part of the conditions to keep them playing. The USTA hasn’t released a statement concerning the matter but tournament director Stacey Allaster said the decision is based on ‘medical science and all of those facts.’
“Contact tracing has been executed, decisions have been made and we’re continuing on to have those individuals in the competition based on the medical science and all of those facts,” she told The Tennis Channel on Monday.
There are still a few unanswered questions about the move and the USTA now find themselves facing allegations of double standards. Just over a week ago two South American players were removed from the Western and Southern Open after their coach tested positive. It is unclear as to why the US Open group of players have been allowed to continue playing or if there has been any change to protocol over the past week.
Édouard Roger-Vasselin is one of the players who was initially told to isolate in his room after Paire’s positive test. Speaking to L’Equipe newspaper, he says he is now living ‘in a bubble of a bubble’’ after signing the new waiver. Conditions include eating alone in his room, not being allowed to use the lift and he will no longer have access to the cloakroom.
“We can train normally with whoever we want, but today it will be I think with others (contact cases). And my doubles partner (Jürgen Melzer), I can only see him on the court or during the match. Not otherwise … ” He said.
Alex de Minaur, who is the 21st seed in the men’s draw, is one the first players to publicly comment on the ongoing situation. In a Facebook Live interview with The Australian, he says he is trying to stay in his room as much as possible amid the potential risk of an outbreak.
“Me and my team are just trying to stay in our rooms as much as we can,” de Minaur commented.
“We don’t really want to have too much interaction just in case, whatever happens, because that could really mean we are out of the tournament.”
UbiTennis has contacted the USTA for clarity on the matter and are awaiting a response.
