'Don't rush back': Fans farewell 'quarantine sook' after early Aus Open exit
Fans turned on controversial American Tennys Sandgren after his dismantling and early exit to Aussie gun Alex de Minaur at the Australian Open.
Sandgren caused a stir even before he landed in Melbourne for quarantine after he tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks before his flight from Los Angeles, but said he was allowed to board after intervention from Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley.
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The American was among 72 players put in hard lockdown after passengers on their flights to Australia tested positive.
But he was also vocal during his time in quarantine after hitting out against Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley and Australian Open organisers after claiming he was held in isolation for a ‘15th day’.
However, the former Australian Open quarter-finalist’s run at the first Grand Slam of the year didn’t have quite the backbone as his criticism after de Minaur disposed of him 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
But the match wasn’t without its drama.
Sandgren caused a stir when he hit a forehand right at de Minaur at the net, which he laughed and apologised for.
But in an ironic moment, de Minaur got the last laugh after winning match point by hitting a forehand into Sandgren at the net.
Fans farewell Sandgren after Aus Open loss
Fans were quick to wave goodbye to Sandgren who has made his presence felt in Australia even from quarantine.
Couldn’t happen to a worse dude. Alex de Minaur knocking out Tennys Sandgren. Only disappointing thing is Sandgren gets to keep the points from his 2020 #AusOpen run. But at least he’s gone. pic.twitter.com/JhHl9QRW3v
— Sarah (@Sarah_Oestreich) February 9, 2021
Now, to see the ridiculously named Tennys Sandgren roll over in a sulk to the wonderful Alex de Minaur, after having publicly spat the dummy over quarantine, to know he’ll be on a flight back fuming, the entire trip squandered, and that he got only a glimpse of aussie paradise..
— Evan Morgan Grahame (@Evan_M_G) February 9, 2021
Tennys Sandgren ending his farcical trip to Australia by getting bashed by a tennis ball on match point is the 2021 storyline we deserve
— matthew 🐨 (@MFallingStar18) February 9, 2021
Hoping that @TennysSandgren has a good flight home and doesn’t have to wait long for a flight.
— Mark Sharman (@SharmanRose) February 9, 2021
Have a pleasant flight back to the United States tmw @TennysSandgren
Don't rush back down under, K? https://t.co/zYqpWeqJsW— Andy (@123456789Angry) February 9, 2021
Interesting that most of the "quarantine sooks" have played poorly. Paire and Sandgren the two most outspoken. Looked shit #AusOpen
— Matt (@Mattys123) February 9, 2021
Well done @alexdeminaur, straight sets win. 👏
👋 see ya @TennysSandgren please take your first round winnings and get out of Australia.— Ev Fenton (@Ev_Fenton) February 9, 2021
@TennysSandgren Na, na, na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye 👋 #AO2021 #AusOpen
— Dez (@dez88) February 9, 2021
Jim Courier”Tennys Sandgren looks like he has checked out... and has checked in for a flight out tomorrow...” 🤣🤣🤣.
— Amanda (@AmandaPeet123) February 9, 2021
Looks like you’re heading home early champ 👋
— MrPotato (@colcannonmash) February 9, 2021
Sandgren took to social media after the loss and suggested his body wasn’t where it needed to be to compete in the Australian Open after commenting on Vasek Pospisil’s post.
🙋♂️
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) February 9, 2021
He also claimed he “never criticised quarantine, only why we had a 15th day” on Twitter.
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