Sam Querrey and an escape from Russia that could have consequences

Within a week of relaxation, the classic week after a Grand Slam tournament, a movie story to bring tennis back to the fore. Although the truth, this time the reasons are not good, in fact, it is possible that what he has done Sam Querrey During the last hours it can bring a lot of repercussion and damage, especially for him. Thanks to Ben Rothenberg, head journalist of the New York TimesWe have been able to follow the path of the former world No. 11 through a series of tweets that we present below as a story.

It all starts in the ATP 500 of St. Petersburg, where Sam Querrey was scored in the singles and it was his turn to face Denis Shapovalov in the first round. However, the whole plan falls apart when, hours before that meeting, the American finds out that he has tested positive for COVID-19. And not only him, but also his wife (Abby) and their eight-month-old son (Ford). The entire family is immediately notified that they are obliged to stay in the city and to quarantine for 14 days at the hotel. By the way, a five-star hotel with all the facilities and luxuries to enjoy a long stay. At first, both Querrey (already disqualified from the tournament) and his family accept the mandate, until a news flash changes all their plans.

The axis that changes everything is a call from the Russian health authorities directly to the 33-year-old player, telling him that very soon they will have a quick visit from a group of doctors to study his case more carefully and discover the symptoms. In case of symptoms, the next step would be to hospitalize affected family members. It is just at that moment where the five-star hotel loses all its stars and becomes a kind of prison from which they want to escape. The idea of ​​being hospitalized and therefore the risk of being separated from their eight-month-old son is not amusing to Sam. It is time to act, even if it is by breaking the law.

The one from San Francisco then plays an ace up his sleeve, relying on one of his most recognized sponsors, one in charge of private jets. We have seen that patch on Querrey several times in some of his most important matches, including those semifinals at Wimbledon in the 2017 season. This sponsor pulls the strings in record time and the Querrey family leaves St. Petersburg immediately, without consulting anyone. The objective is clear, to cross the Russian border and avoid the local health authorities. In that private jet, Rothenberg says that the three passengers traveled in the back, as far away as possible from the pilots. What was the destination? It is the only tab that remains to be uncovered, although what can be confirmed is that it is a fairly close European country where it was not mandatory to present a negative test for COVID-19 upon landing. Whatever the place, they are there right now.

After knowing all these data, the ATP has been quick to react by reporting the event and underlining that the latest movements of Sam Querrey represent a Serious offense. With those two words they have defined it. In addition, they have added that they are already taking action on the matter, that it is a very serious offense and that an investigation is open. Such is the concern about the case that a letter has also been sent to the rest of the players informing that actions like this seriously endanger the operation of professional tournaments, reaffirming that, if something like this happens again, there will be repercussions that affect to the rest of tour.

The idea that comes out of all this is that tournaments and each organization will increase their measures and become more strict with the players. The normal thing is that Sam Querrey soon offers some kind of notion about how he has lived these last hours, surely giving an explanation to all this odyssey. His name appears inscribed in other paintings of the rest of the European tour, such as the Masters 1000 of Paris-BercyAlthough we will see if they allow him to compete again in the short term after his escape. What is clear is that it will be known very soon what will be the disciplinary sanction that the 33-year-old right-hander will receive from the ATP. In the meantime, catch him if you can.