Rafael Nadal’s hopes of travelling to Australia in the coming days to begin his 2022 season has suffered another setback after he tested positive for COVID-19.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion announced on Monday that he had a positive PCR test upon arrival back in his native Spain earlier this week. Nadal had been in the Middle East, where he trained at his academy in Kuwait before playing at the The Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. At the exhibition event he lost to Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov on consecutive days in what was the first time he had played competitive tennis in front of fans since August due to injury.
“I wanted to announce that on my return home after playing the Abu Dhabi tournament, I have tested positive for COVID in the PCR test that was performed on me when I arrived in Spain,” Nadal said in a statement written in Spanish.
“Both in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi we (my team) passed controls every two days and all were negative, the last being on Friday and having the results on Saturday.”
Nadal is currently in isolation and has confirmed he is suffering from some symptoms. The positive test comes just days after the Spaniard admitted that he couldn’t fully commit to playing at the Australian Open and will consult with his team. Nadal has missed the past four months of the Tour due to a foot injury. He suffers from Muller-Weiss syndrome, which is a rare condition caused by an improperly developed bone.
“I am having some unpleasant moments but I hope that I will improve little by little. I am now homebound and have reported the result to those who have been in contact with me,” Nadal said of his COVID-19 illness.
“As a consequence of the situation, I have to have total flexibility with my calendar and I will analyse my options depending on my evolution. I will keep you informed of any decisions about my future tournaments!” He added.
Further doubt will be raised over Nadal’s prospect of playing at the Australian Open which will begin in four weeks. Under travelling protocols, he will not be allowed to enter the country unless he provides a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure to the country. Players then also have to take a second test when they arrive.
The 35-year-old has won the Australian Open only once in his career which was back in 2009. Although he has also reached the final on four other occasions. Should he not play in the Grand Slam next month it would be the first time he has missed the tournament since 2013 when he was forced to pull out due to a stomach virus.
As it currently stands no other player who participated in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship has tested positive for COVID-19. However, US Open champion Emma Raducanu tested positive before the event started and had to withdraw.
