Argentinian tennis star Diego Schwartzman has blasted the governing body of American tennis over their decision to exclude two players from the Western and Southern Open.
The world No.13 says ‘almost 100 percent’ of players were not happy with the decision to exclude Guido Pella and Hugo Dellien from the tournament based on a policy that they were not told about. Pella and Dellien are currently in quarantine after their physio, Juan Manuel Galvan, tested positive for the COVID -19. Neither player has tested positive themselves and are not sharing a room with Galvan in New York.
This year’s US Open is taking place within a ‘protective bubble’ due to the pandemic with players and their teams restricted as to where they can go. Although the fallout over the quarantine of Pella and Dellien is because the move seemingly contradicts advice that was previously given to players. According to world No.1 Novak Djokovic, who is also the president of the Player’s Council, he said they were told by a ‘chief medical doctor’ via a zoom call that that players can still participate in the tournament if their trainers test positive as long as they are not sharing a room.
“What happened with Pella I took it very badly. I am not going to be a hypocrite, it must be said. 95 percent, or almost 100 percent of the players took it very badly. We have had a lot of private talks with people who organized the protocols, with people from the USTA, and they lied to our faces,” Schwartzman said following his first round win on Sunday.
“They (tournament officials) said that there would be no retaliation for anyone who tested positive. We already know that it is not easy at all, that the entire tournament itself is put at risk, and of course it could have happened to me or anyone, as it happened to Guido.’
“The mistake here is that Pella, Dellien and José (Acasuso, Pella’s coach) tested negative for the fourth time and Titan (Galván) did not test it again after testing positive, “said the world number 13.”
Schwartzman says his view is one that also has the support of the ATP although it is unclear as to who exactly he is referring to from the organisation. He argues that checks should be in place to ensure that there are no false positive tests. The 28-year-old isn’t the only top name to criticise the handling of the matter. Others to also weigh in include Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Andy Murray. Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper March previously reported that a player petition was organised but it is unclear as to what happened with it.
“There are many people who tested for a false positive. We talked about it with ATP people and they agree with what I am saying, but this is a decision of the USTA or the Department of Health and they do not want to test it again, it is something that I cannot understand,” said Schwartzman.
“The situation they are going through after testing negative for the fourth time is very unfair. It seems to me that it was mishandled.”
Due to their quarantine, Pella’s and Dellien’s US Open chances have been dealt a severe blow. As a result of their restrictions, they may not be able to train for the Grand Slam until a day before it begins at best. Leaving them with the prospect of having to play a best-of-five match with minimal training.
Chris Widmaier serves as the USTA’s head of communications and recently defended the process during an email exchange with ESPN. In a statement he says ‘individuals in close contact with the infected individual must quarantine for 14 days’ and it is not a ‘discretionary decision.’ Although there was no comment about the allegation that players have been misled over the rules.
What have the other players said?
“Some of the players were saying, ‘Well, I wouldn’t have come with a trainer or a physio if I knew that was the case.’ I’m not saying that it’s not the right decision, but the players were not clear as to what the rules actually were.” – Andy Murray
“On a Zoom call a few weeks ago we got information from the chief medical doctor of the USTA that if a player is not sharing a room with his coach, or his physio, or anyone from his team that is infected, and his [own] results are negative, he can still compete in the tournament.” – Novak Djokovic
“If most of these players are negative, which is the case, and I think they had three negative tests after already the physio of them was positive, I think they should play. And that’s what the majority of players think, I think, 99%.” – Daniil Medvedev
