'P*ssed off': Andy Murray lashes out over Australian Open mishap

Andy Murray has hit out at the National Tennis Centre in London after he missed the Australian Open due to the coronavirus.

Murray admitted he was ‘gutted’ after testing positive for Covid-19 on January 11 and was unable to fly to Melbourne to quarantine ahead of the Australian Open.

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But Murray admits he was very cautious ahead of the Australian Open and claimed he picked up Covid-19 at the National Tennis Centre.

“I stuck to all of the protocols that were in place. I didn't leave my house or the NTC for the 10 weeks of training. I was very careful because it's not just for tennis reasons,” he said.

Murray passed the virus on to his family, with wife Kim testing positive followed by his three young children, while another member of the Scot's wider family became very ill after also catching it.

The Scot said he was upset at the wider picture after picking up the virus.

"I was p***ed off that I missed the tournament and wasn't able to go to Australia from a personal perspective but then the wider, more important point is that it's not just about a tennis tournament when I am going back and giving the virus to all of my family and infecting them,” he said.

“I care about that a lot."

Murray even went into detail about how the environment had changed at the NTC since the beginning of the pandemic.

"When we went to the NTC in April last year, if there are six indoor courts, you could only practise on one, three and five," said three-times grand slam winner Murray.

"There wasn't any testing at that time but the gym was closed and it was restricted access. It was very different.

"Whereas after Christmas you obviously have an indoor venue where they are using all six courts, there were tons of people in the gym and it was just totally different."

Lawn Tennis Association responds to Murray

Restrictions have since been tightened, with more testing, the lounge closed and greater distancing.

However, the Lawn Tennis Association, which runs the NTC, said it has always followed public safety protocols.

"As everyone knows, this virus is and has been widespread throughout the UK," it said in a statement.

"As the recent positive cases recorded in quarantine in Australia have shown, even with the strictest precautions, it is impossible to eradicate all risk of exposure, either within a single location or in the wider community.

"We have consistently applied the stringent and appropriate restrictions, testing and other protocols for elite training centres in line with government guidance.

"It is impossible for LTA staff to police every part of the building continuously, and ultimately individuals are responsible for their own behaviour and ensuring they follow the rules to protect themselves and others."

with AAP

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