American Sam Querrey, here at the Australian Open in January 2020. -

Ella Ling / BPI / REX / SIPA

What a story !

This Thursday morning, the American journalist Ben Rothenberg (the tennis gentleman of the

New York Times

) told on Twitter how Sam Querrey fled Saint Petersburg and Russia with his wife and baby earlier this week after testing positive for Covid- 19.

It all starts with a positive test, preventing the American player from playing his first round against Denis Shapovalov.

The 49th player in the world was then asked to remain in solitary confinement for 14 days at the hotel (the Four Seasons in St. Petersburg) with his wife Abby and his 8-month-old son Ford.

OK, so here is the story of Sam Querrey fleeing Russia after testing positive for coronavirus:



[thread]

- Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) October 14, 2020

But Querrey learns that a doctor will visit them, and that in case of symptoms, all three will have to be hospitalized.

With him and his wife in mild pain, the American fears he will have to be forcibly taken to the hospital and separated from his baby in a foreign country.

He then organizes the escape of the small family by a private jet.

According to Rothenberg, they landed in a neighboring European country, where a negative test is not required to enter, and are now in a rental in this "unknown country".

Not wanting to further entangle local health authorities in that country (or maybe cause extradition?), The plan is for Querrey to keep his whereabouts undisclosed (cue the Carmen Sandiego theme, Rockapella), but here's a map of the region.



October is lovely around the Baltic!

pic.twitter.com/DEPUcfMmzA

- Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) October 14, 2020

Obviously, ATP did not like it at all and sent a message to the players in which they spoke of a "serious violation of protocol" which could have "repercussions on the rest of the circuit".

“The ATP is aware of an incident regarding a player's serious breach of protocol relating to COVID-19 at this week's St. Petersburg Open” pic.twitter.com/ZatxI4qym3

- Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) October 14, 2020

Querrey is currently engaged in other tournaments to come soon, for example the Masters 1.000 of Paris-Bercy at the end of the month.

Will he be able to play?

The ATP, which "takes this case very seriously", announced the opening of an investigation which could lead to a heavy sanction against Sam Querrey.

  • Russia

  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Sport

  • Tennis