Roberto Bautista Agut has apologized for comparing life in Australian Open quarantine to a jail sentence.
In a video interview with Sport5, a reporter asked Bautista Agut if quarantine confinement to his hotel room felt like jail. The world No. 13 concurred saying quarantine life did feel like being in jail.
More: Bautista Agut Says Quarantine is "Like Jail"
Today, Bautista Agut issued a statement apologizing for his comments, which he said were made in "a private conversation taken out of context."
"I apologize to everyone who has been offended by the video that was posted about me recently," Bautista Agut said in a statement posted on Twitter. "It is a private conversation taken out of context that has unfortunately been released to the media without my knowledge or consent.
"Both my coach and I are following the protocols designed by the Australian Government and Tennis Australia to avoid any risk and guarantee to compete again in a safe way. These are hard time for athletes and for society in general."
Seventy-two players are serving a two-week hard quarantine after being passengers aboard a plane with a positive COVID-19 case. Players in hard quarantine are not permitted to leave their hotel rooms.
AO CEO Craig Tiley announced the tournament plans to start as scheduled on February 8th.
Photo credit: Lindsey Godwin/Miami Open