In a major oversight with regard to safety, Benoit Paire was allowed to play his first-round match against Casper Ruud at the ATP Hamburg Open even though the Frenchmen had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Paire retired midway through the second set. In his post-match press conference, he revealed that he had tested positive for coronavirus twice, and yet he was allowed to play. He said, “The rule is different here in Germany and I say thank you to the doctor and to the tournament, they let me play.”

Benoit Paire on different rules in different tournaments

Benoit mentioned that he had tested negative just the previous day. Generally, the ATP mandates a 14-day quarantine if a player has tested positive, but in Paire’s case, they took a different route. “The only test negative is yesterday but 2 in a row I was positive. The rule here is different so the ATP has to explain to me what the rule is. In Paris some are negative. But because the coach is positive they can’t play. Here in Germany you are positive and can play,” Paire said.

Elsewhere, COVID-19 rules have been strictly applied. Recently, five players had to withdraw from the French Open qualifiers after two players and a coach tested positive for the coronavirus. In the French Open, if the player comes in contact with a coronavirus positive person, he/she will have to withdraw regardless of their COVID-19 test result. But in Germany, Paire has been handled differently.

This is the second time Paire has contracted the virus. Earlier, during the Western & Southern Open, Paire had tested positive which led to his withdrawal from the US Open. It remains to be seen what will happen with his French Open participation.

Benoit Paire indicated that the rules in Germany are different, which is why he was allowed to play. This brings to light a visible confusion between players and different organizations with regards to the implementation of COVID-19 rules.

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