ATP Tour gives a light penalty to Sam Querrey

Sam Querrey (Google Images)

The ATP Tour had the opportunity of sending a significant message that they are taking coronavirus extremely seriously. However, on Wednesday, they failed to do so.

In October at the St. Petersburg Open in Russia, Sam Querrey of the United States and his wife, Abby tested positive for coronavirus. They were supposed to then self-isolate in their hotel room for 14 days. However, instead, Querrey, his wife, and child, flew back to the United States.

Querrey should have known better. He and his family put other people at serious risk of getting the disease. Their behaviour was extremely negligent, and the ATP Tour had the chance of making a big statement. However, the Tour can now be placed in the same category, as Major League Baseball, which decided not to discipline Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner for celebrating his World Series championship with his teammates, even though he had coronavirus.

Yes, Querrey received a $20,000 fine. However, the fine is lifted if Querrey does not break anymore coronavirus health and safety protocols. In other words, it was a slap on the wrist. Querrey is also been put on probation. Ok, so they are monitoring him. There is no suspension as there should have been. He gets to compete at Delray Beach and the Australian Open, which is downright ludicrous.

The ATP Tour took time to investigate the incident. They need to be credited for that. However, it is too easy in this day in age for Querrey to use the “breakdown in communication” approach. Querrey has not said that, but his decision not to comment on this extremely serious matter does not put him in a positive light with tennis fans or people who have taken the worst pandemic in a century seriously.

One must question the ATP Tour’s decision in taking Querrey’s previous good-standing on the tour into account. What Sam and Abby are accused of doing was extremely reckless.

Querrey now has the opportunity to appeal the judgment. According to the ATP Tour, he has five days to do so.

Over the last month, those in charge of the tennis community have given bans to players accused of match-fixing. These players should be suspended, but in making their decisions they did not put the health of others in possible jeopardy. At first glance, Querrey did, and he should receive a suspension of significance as well.

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