France’s Benoit Paire has slammed Australian Open organisers over their quarantine measures which he has suggested wasn’t fair to all players.
The former top 20 player bowed out in the first round of the tournament on Monday after losing in four sets to Egor Gerasimov. Making it the fourth time he has fallen at the first hurdle in Melbourne over the past six years. Nevertheless, Paire was satisfied with his performance as he targeted all of his anger towards the tennis bosses.
“I think it’s s**t, and what happened is shameful,” L’Equipe quoted him as saying. “My level of play was good, I think my attitude was good. I hope I didn’t hurt my elbow too much. But otherwise, overall I’m very disappointed with this tournament.”
Paire was one of 72 players who had to be placed in a strict quarantine upon arrival in the country after being classed as a close contact of somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19. There was a series of positive tests on planes carrying players to Australia. As a result, the Frenchman had to spend 14 days in his room without any outdoor practice.
However, the 31-year-old says he believes there was a difference in treatment between those who quarantined in Melbourne compared to the top players who were based in Adelaide. Paire claims there was also a positive case on a flight to Adelaide but nobody went into a strict quarantine. Something that has been rebuffed by organisers.
“There was also a positive case on the flight to Adelaide, but there, we had time to take blood samples, etc.,” he said.
“We were told to quarantine. Either we do the same things and the same rules for everyone. I do not understand why it’s not ‘fair’ for everyone. A truncated preparation, truncated matches. To me, this is scandalous.
“Afterwards, I’m very happy with my level, with what I was able to produce today. But this tournament, frankly, I think it’s really crap.
“This match, I could have won it if I had had one or two more training sessions, a normal preparation.”
Earlier in the day Angelique Kerber is another player who took an indirect swipe at the hard quarantine measures which she also went through. After crashing out in the first round, the German admitted she would have thought twice about coming to the Australian Open if she knew what would have happened.
It isn’t just Tennis Australia who is in Paire’s firing line. He has also slammed the ATP over their tournament management during the pandemic. Accusing the governing body of caring only about the money instead of the player’s welfare.
“It’s all about the money. That’s it, actually. There is a huge loss if they don’t make the tournament. No matter what, there has to be a tournament. Afterwards, most players think that there is a little bit of money to be made and they come for it,” Paire raged.
“Me first, I also play for money. But if you have to make so many sacrifices and things go so badly, let it be such a hassle, at some point you just have to say stop.
“I don’t quite understand where we’re going, I don’t quite understand what ATP is doing. It becomes borderline grotesque. For me, tennis is not that. Frankly, I’m not enjoying it.”
Paire hasn’t won a match on the ATP Tour since the French Open last October.
