“Bubble In The Bubble”: WTA Star Once Again Hits Out at US Open 2020 Over Weird Protocols

Things have gone from being bad to worse for a few athletes in the 2020 US Open. When Benoit Paire tested positive in the bubble amid all the safety precautions, it sent a chain of negative reactions, questioning the safety of the tournament. Athletes who were in contact with Paire in the bubble were put in quarantine, and now, things have become more complicated. 

Players like Richard Gasquet and Kirsten Flipkens have been severely affected by this protocol. They had been in close contact with Benoit Paire before the Frenchman tested positive for the virus. This makes them potential carriers and makes the bubble even more vulnerable. 

As a result, the organizers engaged in contract tracing and asked a few athletes who were in close contact with Paire, to isolate themselves in the bubble. The point of the matter is that Gasquet and Flipkens have both crashed out of their tournaments in their respective events. However, they still have to be inside the bubble, engage in self-quarantine due to the recent events. 

Flipkens found it intolerable for her to stay inside and isolate herself for a week. She feels she could’ve flown back and practiced for the upcoming tournaments. The 34-year-old expressed her disappointment over the protocols, which forced them to utilize separate training areas. But now, things have taken a turn for the worse. 

US Open 2020 organizers enforce strict actions to make the bubble less-prone to the virus 

It must be a huge let-down when you’ve lost, but can’t exit the tournament or leave the country jut yet! What’s worse is when the organizers ask you to stay put inside the room and not leave for a week! Well, might sound like a parent grounding a kid, but that’s the reality of the US Open 2020 bubble!

Kirsten Flipkens is absolutely raging over the fact that she can’t even exit her room for a week now! The new protocols require the athletes who are already under quarantine to stay in their room until the mandatory isolation period ends. 

As expected, Flipkens posted an IG story to express her outrage. AFP’s Reem Abulleil shared it on twitter to give it a better reach. “Flipkens says players must now stay in their rooms until next weekend. They can no longer follow the amended protocols that have been in place for them the last few days,” Abulleil wrote, attaching a screenshot of Flipkens’ story for further reference. 

This is certainly a stern decision taken by the US Open 2020 organizers. It comes as a major disappointment to the athletes who are affected by it. But we feel the authorities are left with no choice. Strict protocols call for a safer environment, which is the need of the hour.