Victoria Azarenka pens thoughtful letter to tennis community urging them to ‘accept, adapt’

Two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka has taken to social media to address her colleagues and call on them to be sensitive and show respect while either in self-isolation or hard quarantine in Australia.
Murmurs of discontent are growing in the tennis community after 72 players were forced to go into quarantine in Melbourne on the back of a few positive coronavirus cases on their charter flights last week.
Some have taken to social media to complain about the food, small hotel rooms and their inability to train.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic even went as far as sending a request to authorities to ask for better conditions, but it was met with a “firm no”.
‘It’s a firm NO from me’ – Officials reject Novak Djokovic and co’s Australian Open quarantine requests
Azarenka, one of those who are in hard quarantine, has taken a different approach and asked her “colleagues for cooperation, understanding and empathy for the local community”.
📝 💭 pic.twitter.com/BWTqubGMR3
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 19, 2021
Dear players, coaches, entourage and Australian community, I would like to take a moment and address some of my colleagues as well as the media around the world.
This has been a very difficult time for a lot of us that did not expect to end up in the situation we are in today, myself included. To be in a 14 day hard quarantine is very tough to accept in terms of all the work everyone has been putting in during their off-season – to be prepared for playing our first Grand Slam of the year. I understand all the frustration and feeling of unfairness that has been coming and it is overwhelming.
We have a global pandemic, nobody has a clear playbook of how to operate at full capacity and without a glitch, we all have seen it last year. Sometimes things happen and we need to accept, adapt and keep moving.
I would like to ask all my colleagues for cooperation, understanding and empathy for the local community that has been going through a lot of very demanding restrictions that they did not choose, but were forced to follow.
I would like to ask to be sensitive as well to the people who lost their jobs and loved ones during this horrible time for all of us around the world.
I would like to ask all of us to have respect for people who work tirelessly to try to make our lives easier.
I would like to ask the media to please have consciousness on the impact and influence you bring to this situation and the community.
I would like for the people in the community to know and understand that we have it as our top priority to ensure the health safety of all the people.
Lastly, I would like for us to please try to support each other as much as someone can or is willing to.
Things are always easier when you have a compassionate environment and work together.
Once again thank you everyone for their efforts as we continue to navigate through these next few days and weeks.
Thank you.
Vika
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Wimbledon
How much John McEnroe earns from BBC commentary gig
John McEnroe walks away with a tidy sum for a fortnight of work.
-
Wimbledon
Ons Jabeur isn’t paid by the hour as she breezes into last 16
The world number two extended her winning streak on grass this summer to eight matches.
-
Tennis News
Heather Watson and Cameron Norrie flying the flag for Britain today at Wimbledon
Only four Brits remain.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz finding his feet at SW19 to threaten Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal
He’s becoming a bigger danger to the ‘more experienced.’
-
Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios punished for spitting at fan in Wimbledon crowd
Bad boy Kyrgios handed yet another fine.
-
Wimbledon
Jack Draper suffers defeat but promises to return to Wimbledon a better player
It wasn’t to be this year.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon day four: Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal battle on
Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Liam Broady won on Thursday to keep the British flag flying.
-
Wimbledon
Alex De Minaur joins girlfriend Katie Boulter in Wimbledon third round
The 20-year-old won the first set on Court One but fell to a 5-7 7-6 (0) 6-2 6-3 defeat.
-
Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon: ‘Every day is a challenge’
Rafael Nadal is prepared to grind his way into the second week at SW19.
-
News
Iga Swiatek made to sweat to progress at Wimbledon and extend streak
Karolina Pliskova was the big seed to exit the women’s draw on Thursday while Kirsten Flipkens bowed out.