A tennis star who whinged about Australian Open hotel quarantine before testing positive to coronavirus now complains she has been ‘abandoned’.
Paula Badosa was one of the most outspoken critics of 72 players being locked up in hotels for 14 days after being on the same planes as infected patients.
The world No. 67 quickly changed her tune when she was diagnosed days later and was transferred to a health hotel to start another 14 days of lockdown in the lead-up to the Grand Slam.
Now the 23-year-old from Spain is complaining again about ‘lamentable’ conditions in her cramped, airless room without training equipment.
Badosa described her time in quarantine as the ‘worst experience’ of her career, saying she felt ‘abandoned’ and had suffered from anxiety and claustrophobia.
World No. 67 Paula Badosa tested positive last week after previously whinging about the tough restrictions on Australian Open players who are unable to leave their rooms to train
Badosa on Monday described her time in quarantine as the ‘worst experience’ of her career, saying she felt ‘abandoned’ and had suffered from anxiety and claustrophobia
Badosa said she had not received any training equipment and had been limited to doing sit-ups and using water bottles for weights in room she is sharing with her coach Javier Marti
‘I feel abandoned because I don’t have training equipment which I requested five days ago, I haven’t been told which type of the virus I have, I’ve had no information from the tournament,’ she told Spanish media outlet Marca.
‘The conditions here are lamentable, I wasn’t expecting that. The number one thing people recommend when you have the virus is to open the windows to let in air, but I don’t have windows in my hotel room and it’s barely 15m square.
‘I have lost a lot of my fitness levels, especially my strength. If I can come out on January 31 I’ll have a week to get in shape. If it’s February 5 it’ll be impossible to recover in time.’
Badosa said she had not received any training equipment and was limited to doing sit-ups and using water bottles for weights in room she is sharing with her coach Javier Marti.
The Spaniard arrived in Melbourne after playing in Abu Dhabi earlier this month and was on her seventh day in quarantine when her test came back positive.
Australian Open organisers said they are in regular touch with Badosa but due to her positive test the restrictions were tighter on what was allowed in her hotel room.
‘We have exercise equipment ready and waiting for her, and will continue to work with the health authorities on finding a solution for this to be delivered to her room,’ Tennis Australia said.
Following her initial complaints about quarantine, Badosa posted her apology to Twitter on Friday
Badosa made headlines earlier this month after moaning about being in hard lockdown, in a tweet that has since been deleted
Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria said earlier there were no further positive tests among the 970-strong Australian Open contingent to report on Tuesday, leaving just the nine already confirmed cases.
‘Our priority is supporting the health and wellbeing of those in our care and reducing the risk of transmission to protect staff and community safety,’ it said.
‘CQV is in ongoing discussions with Tennis Australia about suitable equipment that can be delivered to positive and symptomatic residents, given that the equipment can’t be reused and would need to be safely destroyed.’
Badosa made headlines earlier this month after moaning about being in hard lockdown, in a tweet that has since been deleted.
‘At the beginning the rule was the positive section of the plane who was with that person had to quarantine. Not the whole plane,’ she wrote.
‘Not fair to change the rules at the last moment. And to have to stay in a room with no windows and no air.’
The Spaniard arrived in Melbourne after playing in Abu Dhabi earlier this month and was on her seventh day in quarantine when her test came back positive
Australian Open organisers said they are in regular touch with Badosa but due to her positive test the restrictions were tighter on what was allowed in her hotel room
Following her initial complaints, Badosa posted her apology to Twitter on Friday.
‘Health will always comes first and I feel grateful for being in Australia. Quarantine & preventive measures are pivotal right now,’ the tweet read.
‘I talked about rules that changed overnight but I understand the sad situation we are living. Sorry guys. Stay safe.’
She then later announced on Twitter she had tested positive to Covid-19.
‘I have some bad news,’ Badosa wrote overnight. Today I received a positive Covid-19 test result,’ she wrote.
‘I’m feeling unwell and have some symptoms, but I’ll try to recover as soon as possible listening to the doctors.’