"We're not getting tested" says Alexander Zverev on the Australian Open

Thursday, 20 January 2022 at 13:20

Alexander Zverev believes the number of positive Covid-19 cases at the Australian Open is probably a lot higher than what is being reported as players “are not getting tested”.

In an interesting admission, Alexander Zverev confirmed what has been floated around for a few days in the media. Players are not getting tested as much as last year which enraged some about the way Novak Djokovic was treated in the country due to presumably not being vaccinated. He was deported on grounds of being a threat to safety which is an interesting position considering that safety seems not to be the priority this year around.

It became apparent after Ugo Humbert returned a positive test one day after struggling physically in a match against compatriot Richard Gasquet. Alexander Zverev was asked about it and he confirmed that testing is non-existent at the event:

“I did not know that he (Humbert) had Covid. This year in Australia there are a lot more cases than last year. We are allowed to go outside to eat, we are allowed to do what we want, so it is natural that more people get Covid."

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He further said:

“My brother when he arrived had Covid, he was in quarantine in Sydney. He does not have it anymore, but I think quite a few players had it when they arrived. Quite a few players I think have it now. We are not getting tested, so I think if we would get tested there would be probably more positives than there are now, in a way.”

Zverev also admitted that he is being very careful not to get the virus because it would hamper his chances at the event:

“I am somebody who is here to play the tournament. I understand there are a lot of cases in Melbourne and Australia all around, so I am not doing a lot outside. I have not been to any restaurants yet. I’ve not been anywhere other than the hotel room and the courts. I am doing my own bubble simply because I do not want to take any risks and want to give myself the best chance possible to do well here. If I get Covid, that is not going to happen.”