Bad spin for AO
First it was Nadal, now bencic and Jabeur also hit by virus
MELBOURNE: Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said he was confident that Rafael Nadal will play in Melbourne despite testing positive for Covid-19, as fresh doubts emerged over Novak Djokovic.
Spanish star Nadal said on Monday that he tested positive after returning home from an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi and was experiencing “some unpleasant moments”.
While the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he was examining all his playing commitments, Tiley believes Nadal will be sufficiently recovered to chase his second Australian Open (AO) title in January.
“I’m confident Rafael will be here,” the tournament director told reporters in Melbourne.
“Players that are testing positive now will complete a period of time until they are no longer infectious and they’ll be fine.”
World number one Djokovic, who has won nine of his 20 Grand Slams at Melbourne Park, remains in serious doubt over his refusal to confirm if he has been vaccinated.
The 34-year-old has been named on the tournament entry list but his father Srdjan reportedly said his participation is still not guaranteed.
Tiley said “a small percentage” of unvaccinated players and staff would be granted medical exemptions at the Australian Open, but their identity was protected by strict privacy protocols.
He was not aware of any players informing organisers they had an exemption.
“If Novak shows up at the Australian Open, he’ll either be vaccinated or he’ll have a medical exemption,” Tiley said.
“Medically, he doesn’t talk to anyone about it – I’m not going to ask Novak that, it’s none of my business.”
Any indication Djokovic had received a vaccination exemption would likely prompt a furious public backlash in Melbourne, which has endured long periods of lockdown in a bid to contain the virus.
The Australian Open field has already been ravaged by injuries, with superstars Serena Williams and Roger Federer out, along with Jennifer Brady, Karolina Pliskova, Bianca Andreescu and Karolina Muchova.
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem is struggling to return from an injury-enforced layoff, while rising star Emma Raducanu and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic have tested positive for Covid-19.
Tiley said there was still enough time for players with coronavirus to recover for the event, which begins on Jan 17.
“If you’re going to test positive and you want to play the Australian Open, your timing would be now,” he said.
n PARIS: Olympic tennis champion Belinda Bencic and Tunisian Ons Jabeur have tested positive for Covid19 after competing in the Abu Dhabi exhibition, both confirmed on Tuesday, a day after Nadal announced he had also tested positive.
Former men’s world number one Nadal’s Spanish coach Carlos Moya, 45, also announced on Tuesday he had tested positive on his return from Abu Dhabi.
Jabeur replaced US Open champion Emma Raducanu after the Briton withdrew from the event after a positive test.
World number ten Jabeur said that despite being vaccinated she was “experiencing strong symptoms” and would be recuperating in her native Tunisia.
“I hope to overcome the virus quickly and get well soon,” Jabeur added on Twitter.
“Unfortunately and even though I am fully vaccinated, I recently tested positive for Covid-19,” 23rd-ranked Swiss Bencic also said on Twitter.
“I am currently isolating and taking all precautionary (measures) to get through this as best as possible as I am experiencing quite severe symptoms (fever, aches, chills).
“While the timing is not ideal – as I was in the final stages of my preparations for the Australian Open swing – I will make my way to Australia as soon as I am cleared and past the isolation period.”
The Australian Open begins on Jan 17 in Melbourne.