Rafael Nadal‘s hopes of appearing in next month’s Australian Open looks to be in doubt after the Spanish superstar tested positive for COVID-19.
While Nadal’s name is on the entry list for the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, his participation has remained a mystery.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner just stunned tennis fans earlier this week by conceding he wasn’t a lock to compete.
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“The idea is to go there and try my best there in Australia,” he said. “Being 100 per cent honest, I can’t guarantee it. I need to speak with my team.”
And now it appears the 35-year-old’s availability remains even more uncertain after taking to social media tonight to confirm he tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving back in Spain following an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.
He had previously spent the past four months away from the court due to a foot injury.
Writing in Spanish, Nadal revealed his COVID-19 diagnosis has left him dealing with some “unpleasant moments”.
“I wanted to announce that on my return home after playing the Abu Dhabi tournament, I have tested positive for COVID … when I arrived in Spain,” Nadal wrote translated to English.
“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.
“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.”
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