The World No.35 Guido Pella had been disqualified from the Western and Southern Open 2020 last week after his fitness trainer Juan Manuel Galvan, had tested positive for Covid-19. This Monday, Pella uploaded several videos on Instagram and categorically mentioned that his fitness trainer’s result came out negative after getting retested.
Guido added that despite all his five tests coming negative, he was not allowed to participate at Cincinnati Masters. The Argentine expressed his grief on Instagram and said “It looks like he(Pella’s coach) never had the virus. Imagine how I feel”
⚠️ Guido Pella announces on Instagram that they finally retested his fitness trainer Jose Galvan and that he is negative. ‘It looks like he never had the virus. Imagine how I feel’.
Pella, Dellien, Acasuso all tested negative 5 times since they arrived at the bubble pic.twitter.com/a0jH3yEuB1
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 24, 2020
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“I have to stay locked up until Sunday,” Pella remarked as quoted by ESPN, despite being tested negative repeatedly he will have to quarantine himself throughout this week. As the US Open 2020 begins next Monday, Guido Pella won’t have any time to prepare for the grand slam.
Pella’s partner Hugo Dellien was also barred from played the Masters tournament and believes this will certainly dent their chances at the US Open 2020. “I do not know who is going to take charge,” said Hugo Dellien after testing negative multiple times.
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Djokovic and Murray express criticism over ATP’s decision
After the disqualification of Guido Pella and Dellien, the World No.1 Novak Djokovic expressed ire over the ATP’s decision.
“On a Zoom call a few weeks ago we got information from the chief medical doctor of the USTA that if a player is not sharing a room with his coach, or his physio, or anyone from his team that is infected, and his [own] results are negative, he can still compete in the tournament,” said Djokovic in video conferencing call.
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The 3-time grand slam champion Andy Murray also reprimanded the harsh decision and said that the rules haven’t been communicated clearly to the players. The strict protocols at the US Open will make it tough for the players to prepare if another such case happens.