'Like a jail': Top tennis player savages Australian Open 'disaster'
World No.13 Roberto Bautista Agut has ripped the Victorian Government for the ‘prison-like’ conditions tennis stars are living in for two weeks ahead of the Australian Open.
Australian Open preparations erupted into chaos as 72 players were forced into 14 days hard lockdown after four more positive Covid-19 cases in Melbourne were linked to charter flights of tennis players and their entourages.
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Players have lashed out at organisers for the ‘overnight changes’ to their quarantine conditions with many claiming it is unrealistic to expect them to quarantine then play a Grand Slam.
But Spanish superstar Bautista Agut has gone one-step further and compared the conditions to a jail.
“It’s like being in a jail,” he said.
When asked during a zoom call whether “it’s the same as being in a prison”, Bautista Agut responded: “It’s the same.”
“These people have no idea about tennis, about practice, courts, no idea about anything.
Exclusive: world number 13 @BautistaAgut rips the authorities in Australia ahead of AUSTRALIAN OPEN. "It's like a jail here" pic.twitter.com/PWwQL7ngES
— Sport5 (@sport5il) January 18, 2021
“It’s a complete disaster. Because the control is not Tennis Australia, it’s the people from the government.”
He finished claiming he couldn’t imagine staying in those conditions for two weeks.
Roberto Bautista Agut slammed for ‘jail’ comment
Bautista Agut’s view, like many tennis stars that have criticised quarantine, came under heavy scrutiny.
Especially when a player of his stature is expected to earn more than $90,000, or more the further he progresses, during his time in Australia.
When asked “it’s like being in prison, huh?”, @BautistaAgut replies “it’s the same, it’s the same”.
No, mate. It’s not the same. You are guanteed a minimum $90,000 at the end of it (likely more).
Try some perspective and gratitude like most of your peers. #ausopen https://t.co/b1erwsFDrc— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) January 19, 2021
Some very *strong* words from the usually calm Roberto Bautista Agut. "This is a complete disaster". https://t.co/fpDAlFjpcY
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 19, 2021
There goes any support from the crowd...
— Jen Norton (@jennynorton) January 19, 2021
"I can't imagine staying two weeks like this"
You better start imagining it, champ.— Matt Luff (@Luffy_1991) January 19, 2021
The comments from the Spaniard come despite the quarantine conditions the same as anyone entering Australia.
It also follows Melbourne residents having just been through one of the strictest lockdowns in the world.
Spain has been ravaged by the global pandemic with more 2.3 million Covid-19 cases to date.
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