The ATP will not penalise former Wimbledon semi-finalist Sam Querrey for what it once described as a ‘serious breach of protocol relating to Covid-19’ providing he doesn’t commit another violation within the next six months.
The world No.53 had been under investigation by the governing body of men’s tennis following an incident at the St. Petersburg Open where he left the country during quarantine. During the tournament Querrey, his wife and child all tested positive for the virus. Providing an account of what happened, New York Times journalist Ben Rothenberg said the Querrey family was told to self-isolate for 14 days in a hotel before being informed they would be visited by a doctor who could hospitalise them if they were found to have symptoms. Something that was later disputed by tournament director Alexander Medvedev. Concerned about the possibility and the risk of being separated from their child, the family left Russia via private plane to an unnamed European country without permission.
Since the incident, there has been no public comment from the tennis star. However, the ATP has now conducted their investigation into the matter by issuing the American with a suspended fine of $20,000. Although he will not have to pay anything for breaking the rules should he not commit another offence related specifically to COVID-19 protocols before June. If Querrey conducts any other violation issue such as unsportsmanlike conduct it will not count.
“The investigation reviewed the full circumstances surrounding the incident and concluded Mr. Querrey’s conduct to be contrary to the integrity of the game under the Player Major Offence provision in the ATP Code of Conduct. As a result, the ATP has issued a fine of US$20,000,” a statement reads.
“Taking into consideration Mr. Querrey’s many years of otherwise good standing with the ATP and other mitigating factors, the fine is suspended and will be lifted subject to Mr. Querrey committing no further breaches of health and safety protocols related to COVID-19 within a probationary six-month period. The player has five days to appeal the decision, should he choose to do so.”
The outcome of Querey’s penalty is relatively light compared to what could have happened. The ATP‘s code of conduct indicates that he could have been fined up to $100,000 and even banned for three years if he was found guilty of a ‘serious breach.’ The ATP has not publicly disclosed the full details of their investigation and therefore the justification for the punishment they have deemed suitable.
To put the fine into context, Novak Djokovic was fined $10,000 after inadvertently hitting a lines judge with a ball during the US Open. He was also disqualified from the match.
Querrey has made no public comment about the incident. He is expected to return to action during the first week of January at the Delray Beach Open.
