“At some point I guess we all had the flu. In Paris there were a few cases and a tacit agreement. We don’t do self-tests so as not to put ourselves in danger. After a while I saw colleagues wearing masks, maybe because they knew they had it and didn’t want to pass it on.” In fact, only the top Czech players Barbora Krejčíková and Marie Bouzková made it public in Paris that they had contracted the virus. Cornet now indicated in Wimbledon that significantly more Czechs should have been affected.
The former number 11 in the world rankings does not find this behavior reprehensible. “We paid the price, lived in a bubble for a year and a half, we’re all vaccinated, it’s ok.”
According to information from the women’s tour WTA, the first 100 in the world rankings are all vaccinated, with the men only superstar Novak Djokovic being the exception, who therefore already missed the Australian Open and instead produced an entry and exit drama. Wimbledon will probably remain the last Grand Slam event for the Serbs in 2022. The travel restrictions in the USA do not allow unvaccinated entry.
Berrettini should have played despite Corona
There is no longer a test or mask requirement on the tennis tour. There are no additional measures by the Wimbledon organizers of the All England Club (AELTC) – and so far there have only been three official cases. The co-favorites on grass Marin Čilić and Matteo Berrettini could not play their first round games. The latter emphasized in a statement on social media that, despite improvement, he carried out another test on the day of the match to ensure the “health and safety of my colleagues and everyone involved in the tournament”. This is not certified; often managers or agencies of big players write these posts. The fact is, however, that Berrettini should have actually played – without another test. On Thursday, Roberto Bautista Agut, who announced his corona disease via Twitter, was also hit.
“Always easy to create a conflict”
Superstar Rafael Nadal trained with the Italian last week. There are no longer rules for close contacts. The Spaniard said on Tuesday evening that he felt healthy. When asked about the test situation surrounding his colleague, he explained: “It’s always easy to create a conflict.” An ATP physiotherapist explained to Nadal that a player who has symptoms can decide for himself whether to take a test. “If you do one and you’re positive, you’re out.” He left it open how the 22-time Grand Slam winner found the regulation.
Cornet’s statements, on the other hand, could hardly have been clearer. Since then, a debate has developed about personal responsibility, selfishness and solidarity. The problem: Compared to cycling, for example, with a few cases just before the peak of the year at the Tour de France, tennis professionals have never been trained to be team athletes. Most were screened early on as big talents with their own trainers, agents and physical therapists. In order to make it to the top and then perform there, the focus was and is mostly on them.