Coronavirus: Andrey Rublev becomes sixth tennis star to test positive for Covid-19 after Abu Dhabi exhibition
- An Abu Dhabi event has become a headache for the Australian Open, with three men and three women players contracting virus
- Former world number one Rafael Nadal also tested positive after he returned to Spain from the same exhibition tournament
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Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev became the latest player to have played in an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament earlier this month to test positive for Covid-19 just weeks away from the Australian Open.
The 24-year-old world No 5 tweeted he was self-isolating, putting in doubt his place the ATP Cup in Australia, which starts on Saturday. The Australian Open, where Rublev reached the quarter-finals this year, runs from January 17 to 30 in Melbourne.
“I am currently in Barcelona and unfortunately I have tested positive for Covid-19,” Rublev said via Twitter. “I have minimal symptoms. I am isolating and respecting all the protocols under the supervision of the doctors.”
Rublev said he was fully vaccinated and was preparing for the ATP Cup and the Australian Open.
“Now I have to recover and I will go to Melbourne only when I am certain it is safe for everyone,” he said. “I am very upset and concerned about what is happening. Please, take care of yourself and of the people around you. I will return to the court as soon as possible.”
Three female players who were in Abu Dhabi tested positive – Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic, US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ons Jabeur.
