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'Truly disgusting': Australian Open villain lashes out at critics

Tennys Sandgren has hit back at critics of his outspoken complaints over hotel quarantine in the lead-up to the Australian Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Tennys Sandgren has hit back at critics of his outspoken complaints over hotel quarantine in the lead-up to the Australian Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis stars Tennys Sandgren and Oksana Kalashnikova have hit back at critics after the pair were told they would be required to spend one more day in hotel quarantine, while the majority of their colleagues have completed their isolation.

Sandgren and Kalashnikova are among the 72 people forced into hard quarantine after being aboard flights with passengers who later tested positive for the coronavirus.

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While the majority of the roughly 1200-string contingent of overseas players, coaches and staff are now free to explore Melbourne after completing their two weeks of isolation, Sandgren and Kalashnikova are among the 72 who have not been allowed to leave their rooms for any reason.

So close to being cleared to leave quarantine, the news of the requirement to remain quarantine for one more night has not gone down well.

Sandgren took to social media to openly mock Tennis Australia over the decision.

“I just found out we’re not going to be able to leave the room until midnight tomorrow which will put us out close to 15 days in this room,” he said in an Instagram video.

“That’s also another day we can’t practice.

“(Train) Saturday, Sunday, Monday, play a match on Tuesday, a match - a competitive tennis match.

“Sixteen days off, three days hitting. Tennis match. My name’s Tennis Australia and I’m sooooo cool.”

The American star later re-tweeted an article from the Herald Sun, saying it was ‘just banter’, to ‘chill’, and then later say the word ‘sook’ was ‘dumb’.

Sandgren continued to hit back at fans criticising his outspoken assessment of hotel quarantine, with the 29-year-old furious at one person who compared Australia and the USA’s response to the pandemic.

“Comparing country’s death rates as a diss is truly disgusting,” he wrote.

“Just call me a piece of s*** like a normal person.”

Oksana Kalashnikova frustrated by quarantine setback

Georgian star Kalashnikova was also less than impressed about having to remain in quarantine for an extra night.

She posted a meme on Twitter saying, “Why??” and wrote: “When Australian Government orders u to stay another extra day just because.”

After being told by a fan to ‘suck it up’ in reply to her tweet, Kalashnikova said she felt all she had wanted was an explanation.

Oksana Kalashnikova says all she wanted was an explanation for the extra day of quarantine. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)
Oksana Kalashnikova says all she wanted was an explanation for the extra day of quarantine. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

“Well u sound very ‘rational’. The main thing is not to spread panic over things that won’t do anything,” the world No.63. said in response.

“Especially (as) I totally supported that 14 day quarantine but when u re said to stay another day u deserve explanation like every human being. But I feel people put anger on us.”

The Australian Open is set to begin on Monday, February 8.

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